According to the authority it will rather use the opportunity to sanitize the lottery terrain.

Former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Woode, inaugurated about 11 lotto courts across Ghana in June to aid the prosecution of all lotto-related offences.

The courts include Circuit Courts one and eight in Accra, Circuit Courts B in Tema and Koforidua, Circuit Court 4 in Kumasi, Circuit Court one in Cape Coast, and Circuit Courts in Tarkoradi, Ho, Tamale and Wa.

Addressing the media at the authority’s headquarters, the Director General of NLA, Kofi Osei Ameyaw said though there are laws available for prosecution, his outfit will adopt dialogue and negotiations to harmonize all other lotto companies in their operations.

He said that “it (the court) is not to witch-hunt anybody, this happened previous. In the previous administration there was an executive instrument for prosecution. That is not to say that because we have the laws, the courts and the prosecution, everyone should be prosecuted.”

Mr Osei Ameyaw also seized the opportunity to call on all lotto operators in the country to legally register with National Lottery Authority to enable the m contribute their quota towards natonal development.

“I am calling on everyone engaged in the lottery business to come forward and obtain their license so that they can pay their due share of taxes and revenue for government so that we use the money to develop the country.

Those that are lawfully working and paying their taxes feel that they are being cheated by those who are not paying their taxes and are doing the business clandestinely, this restricts the revenue base of the country” he added

The authority however indicated that it will ensure that the law is strictly enforced after six months.

The Director General said “ When the chief justice announce the eleven lotto courts throughout the country, I made a plea and a  pledge that there will be an amnesty period of about six month moratorium, all those engaged in the illegal lotto activities should come forward so that we can deal cordially.

“The law courts may be there but we don’t have to utilize it, prosecution maybe there but we don’t have to utilize it. Please let’s work together so that we can all feed our families, we are not trying in any way to deprive anybody of their daily bread or livelihood.”

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Anass S. Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Lotto courts not to persecute illegal operators – NLA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Director General of the NLA, Kofi Osei Ameyaw, the six-month ultimatum is to allow all those involved to take steps to formalize their activities with the authority and ensure the benefit of some tax revenue.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ThVqiDcXoSjeruBx0DKBW5KZNvPXqsK4″]Under the National Lotto Act, 2006 and Lottery Regulation 2008, any person or group of individuals that undertake lotto operations without the prior approval of authority acts illegally.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Ameyaw called on all operators not complying with the National Lotto Act and regulations “to come in and make the necessary arrangements with us.”

“The doors are open for us to see how they can come in within the law for us to work with them so they can operate legally and make contributions through taxation as they are supposed to bring to the nation.”

“It is about national development. It is about building government. It is not about people making money and putting the money in their pocket whilst others are making it and paying their fair share of taxes and obeying the law,” he said.

Mr. Ameyaw warned that “after the six months, if they don’t comply with the law, then whatever penalty or sanctions the law require, we will take that.”

Earlier in June, eleven lotto courts were inaugurated across the country to facilitate the prosecution of lotto-related offences.

The courts include circuit courts one and eight in Accra, circuit courts B in Tema and Koforidua, circuit court 4 in Kumasi, circuit court A in Sunyani, circuit court one in Cape Coast, and circuit courts in Takoradi, Ho, Tamale and Wa.

The lotto-related offences established under the National Lotto Act  include offences in relation to a coupon contrary to section 19 of the Act, which criminalizes the manufacturing, distribution, selling, offering or displaying for sale coupons in contravention of Section 18(2) of the Act, and offences in relation to the National Lotto draw and foreign lottery contrary to sections 27 and 29 of the Act.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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