National Lottery Authority pays GH¢10m dividend to Ghana

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has paid GH¢10 million in dividends to the Ghanaian government, a move Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson described as the first such payment since 2017. NLA Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam stated the payment reflects a commitment to efficiency, transparency, and revenue generation.

In response to the payment, the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney-General are conducting a review of existing agreements to ensure the state is not unreasonably ceding revenue to third parties. The Minister emphasized that while the dividend is a positive step, it should not be merely symbolic and that taxpayers deserve greater returns from the authority.

However, Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku, a financial economist and former NLA Public Relations Manager, has challenged the characterization of this payment. Opoku argues that the minister’s statement overlooks broader revenue streams from the lottery ecosystem. He noted that the government has received significant sums through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other fees paid by companies to the NLA, suggesting these figures should be distinguished from direct dividends paid by the NLA.