Ato Forson Demands More Revenue from NLA, Orders Review of Lottery Agreements

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has directed the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to significantly increase its financial contributions to the state and ordered a review of agreements he says have resulted in an unreasonable share of lottery revenue being ceded to other entities.

Dr Forson made the remarks after the NLA presented a GH¢10 million cheque to the Consolidated Fund, marking its first such dividend payment to the government since 2017, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The Finance Minister welcomed the payment but said the amount was insufficient compared with what the state should be receiving from the lottery sector.

“I am particularly happy to note that National Lottery is back and supporting,” Dr Forson said, while questioning what had happened to the Authority’s contributions between 2017 and 2026.

He recalled that, during his tenure as Deputy Finance Minister from 2013 to 2016, he exercised supervisory responsibility over national lotteries on behalf of then Finance Minister Seth Terkper.

“When we are in need of revenue, we reach out to him, and you know that you get a cheque,” he said.

Dr Forson said the government would work with the NLA and the Attorney-General to review existing agreements governing the Authority’s operations and revenue-sharing arrangements.

According to him, some agreements had resulted in too much of the revenue generated by the lottery being allocated to other entities rather than accruing to the state.

“The revenue has been ceded unreasonably to the other entity as against the government. And we believe that needs to be corrected, and we'll correct it immediately,” he said.

The Minister said the review, being undertaken by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Attorney-General, is expected to be completed in October.

Dr Forson stressed that the GH¢10 million payment should be regarded as a starting point rather than an indication of the NLA’s full revenue potential.

“The taxpayer deserves more than 10 million. Yes, it's a good start. But you have to do more,” he said.

He subsequently urged the NLA to focus on its statutory mandate of generating revenue through lottery operations instead of undertaking activities he described as quasi-fiscal.

“If you have enough money and you want to spend it on good causes, bring it to the government. It's not your business. We will provide public good to the people of Ghana on your behalf,” Dr Forson said.

“Your job is to perform your core mandate.”

The Minister further maintained that revenue generated above the Authority’s operational expenditure should be treated as surplus and transferred to the government.

“Please don't go into areas that are not your mandate. They are quasi-fiscal activities, and you should desist from them. Bring the money back to government,” he said.

The NLA, meanwhile, has described the GH¢10 million payment as part of reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and revenue generation. Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam said the Authority is also reviewing its commercial arrangements with private operators to strengthen the state’s returns from the lottery sector.

The latest development is expected to intensify scrutiny of the NLA’s revenue-sharing arrangements and the proportion of lottery proceeds ultimately accruing to the state.