Members of the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) and the Concerned Lotto Agents Association (CLAAG), have rejected a 20% commission to be paid to writers as ordered by the National Lottery Authority(NLA).
The NLA last week ordered that GLOA and CLAAG impressed on their members to accept the new reduced 20% commission or forfeit the renewal of their license.
But at a press conference on Tuesday at the Teachers Hall in Accra, members of the two associations have vehemently rejected the order by the NLA and has threatened to take action if the NLA persist with the decision.
According to the writers, the reduction in their commissions at a time the country is experiencing economic difficulties will only bring untold hardships on them.
The writers were clad in red and held placards some of which read; ‘Leave banker to banker alone’, Sammy Awuku must go, we don’t 20% instead we want 40%, among several others.
The Executive Secretary of Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana, Mr Tawiah Duah reading the statement said “ It has become necessary to convene a meeting between Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA), Private Lotto Operators (PLO), Concerned Lotto Agents Association of Ghana (CLAAG) and Lotto Writers because about a week ago, an announcement was made by GLOA and PLO in the media that effective that day (31st October, 2022) commissions paid to lotto writers were reduced form 30% to 2o%.
That meant a whopping 10% reduction in their income levels.
This announcement was implemented and was met by agitated writers given the already existing hardship in the economy.
This situation has therefore resulted in several incidence of near altercations between Lotto Writers and their respective Agents. This coupled with numerous outpouring of angered writers expressing themselves through voice calls, WhatsApp and SMS messages to our offices and Executive Officers demanding for sustained nationwide demonstrations against the reduction until such times that will be reversed.
GLOA, PLO and CLAAG have therefore convened this important meeting to calm the nerves of Lotto Writers as CLAAG has already written to National Lottery Authority (NLA) to register its grievances to the reduction in commissions.
It is our hope to seek amicable solution to the Problem at hand, of course with the active participation of GLOA.
If, however by Friday, 11th November, 2022, the matter has not been resolved, CLAAG will again invite its members to reconvene and decide on its next line of action.
All the members of Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) were present to listen to the concerns of the Lotto Agents and the Lotto writers.
The Chairman of GLOA, Noah Afonope assured the Lotto Agents and Operators to rest assured and believes that something good will come out of their meeting with NLA.
