By Benjamin Mensah
Accra, Oct 19, GNA – The National Lotto Authority (NLA) Ghana says it is instituting measures to control lotto addiction and compulsive gambling among players.
It has consequently asked lotto operators to ask prolific stakers probing questions and turn away those who cannot give satisfactory answers.
Mr. David Lamptey, Acting Director, Strategy and Business Improvement at the NLA directed lotto operators that,” if you suspect a customer is playing out of the ordinary, bring him or her out for a discussion.”
Mr Lamptey gave the order in Accra, during a panel discussion, at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Authority as part of this year’s celebration of Customer Service Week, held recently, on the global theme “Above and Beyond.”
Customer Service Week which began in the United States of America in 1987 is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers daily.
Customer Service Week is celebrated during the first week of October, but the NLA Ghana, this year is extending the celebration to a month.
Mr Lamptey said the NLA sees gambling addiction as a mental disorder, a public health issue that is bringing national problems.
He gave an assurance that the NLA would ensure that people do not get addicted to gambling.
He urged lotto retailers to identify and isolate players as he emphasised that the Authority would ensure responsible gambling.
Mr Lamptey insisted that people under 18 years could not legally stake any game.
Some of the games the Authority organises are Monday Special, Lucky Tuesday, Midweek, Fortune Thursday, Friday Bonanza, National Weekly Lotto, CARITAS and Lucky 3.
Others are 786 Game, NLA Daywa 5/39 Direct, VAG Lotto, Super 6 and Atena.
The engagement also discussed the need to improve sales and the welfare of retailers and the need to work together to make the NLA better.
The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Samuel Awuku disclosed how the NLA Good Causes Foundation had made an impact on about 1 million lives in the country.
The engagement highlighted some achievements of the Good Causes Foundation, the corporate social responsibility with of the NLA since it was introduced in 2021 when Mr Sammy Awuku was appointed its Director General.
The Authority settled on the construction of toilet facilities and mechanized boreholes across the 16 regions of Ghana to ensure good sanitary practices in communities while complementing the government’s efforts in the provision of social amenities.
Ejura, and Drobonso in the Ashanti Region, Essikado in the Western Region, Kwawkrom in the Central Region, Bomaa and Odumase in the Bono Region, Wesley Grammar and Wesley Girls High Schools in the Greater Accra Region, New Juabeng South in the Eastern Region, include areas that have benefitted from the 20-seater toilet facilities with mechanized boreholes.
These facilities have been duly commissioned and handed over to the communities.
Other areas are construction of a 20-seater toilet facility in Aflao in the Volta Region, Garu in the Upper East Region, Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region, and Zabzugu in the Northern Region, among many others.
GNA