Finance Minister demands greater returns from NLA after GH¢10 million dividend presentation

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has said the National Lottery Authority (NLA) must generate more revenue for the state, describing its GH¢10 million dividend as a positive step.

Receiving the dividend from the NLA’s Board of Directors, led by Board Chairman Frederick Amissah and Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam, Dr. Forson said the payment marked the resumption of dividend contributions to the Ministry of Finance after several years.

He noted that the NLA had previously paid dividends annually, but the payments stopped after 2017.

“The taxpayer deserves more than GH¢10 million from NLA, but this is a good step,” he said.

Dr. Forson disclosed that the Ministry was working with the NLA and the Attorney-General to review agreements that had limited the Authority’s returns to the government. He said the review would be completed this month.

According to him, some of the agreements had ceded an unreasonable share of the Authority’s revenue to other entities, depriving the state of funds that should have accrued to it.

The Minister also urged the NLA to focus on its core mandate and avoid activities outside its statutory responsibilities.

“Let this not be symbolic. Ghana deserves better,” Dr. Forson said, pledging to ensure that the state received its due from the Authority.

Board Chairman Frederick Amissah said the dividend payment marked the beginning of reforms and improvements at the NLA, assuring the government that the Authority would work to deliver stronger returns in the years ahead.

“This is just the beginning of the reforms and improvements in NLA,” he said.