Sammi Awuku: Lottery proceeds must directly benefit citizens

Former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Samuel Awuku, has urged the government to establish clear guidelines for the allocation of lottery funds to ensure transparency, accountability, and targeted national development.

Speaking at a Global Conference as the sole African panellist at the World Lottery Association (WLA) and European Lotteries conference in Spain, Awuku emphasized the importance of earmarking lottery proceeds for specific national projects rather than channelling them into the general government budget.

“I advocate that we should target these funds towards specific causes like healthcare or education so that the players who contribute know exactly where their money is going,” Awuku said, highlighting the need to give contributors confidence in how their money is utilized.

Learning From Global Models

Awuku pointed to successful global examples of how lottery funds have been used to support large-scale national projects.

“Part of the City of Miami was built through the process of lottery. So why can’t Ghana follow that model?” he questioned, referencing notable projects like the Great Wall of China and the UK’s Olympic Games, which were funded, in part, by lottery revenue.

Awuku’s call for reform extended to the need for greater accountability in the lottery industry.
“We need to track how much is being collected and ensure it reaches the people it is meant to benefit. The funds should not simply disappear into a general pot,” he stressed.

Drawing inspiration from the NLA’s Good Causes Foundation, Awuku suggested that Ghana adopt a similar approach to channel lottery proceeds into critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and youth development.

“This way, we ensure that lottery funds are being used effectively to serve the public good,” he added.

Awuku also highlighted the global impact of lottery contributions, noting that member organizations of the WLA contributed over $90 billion in 2024 to support various good causes worldwide.

“Member bodies alone contributed over $90 billion last year to promote good causes around the world,” he said, emphasizing the significant role lotteries play in national and global development.