The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has categorically denied issuing a licence to a Chinese company to operate in Ghana.
Recent reports had suggested that the NLA granted a licence to a Chinese company named Blue Star Hi-Tech Limited.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, August 15, the NLA clarified that Blue Star Hi-Tech Limited is a wholly-owned Ghanaian company registered under Ghanaian law.
The Authority emphasised that it conducts due diligence before granting licences to applicants, describing the allegations as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Governing Board and Management.
Furthermore, the NLA explained that the company in question has two directors, one Ghanaian and a naturalised Ghanaian citizen of Chinese descent, who has held Ghanaian citizenship since 2017.
“Management of the NLA unequivocally denies this assertion and states that it is at all material times mindful of the laws enshrined in the GIPC Act 2013 (Act 865) and its own enabling Act, the National Lotto Act 2006 (Act 722).
“Management would like to further state, without any equivocation, that the NLA governing Board has not granted any licences to foreign companies. As is the practice, the Authority undertakes extensive due diligence before granting any licences to the applicant companies.
“The Authority would like to put it on record that Blue Star Hi-Tech Company Ltd. is a wholly owned Ghanaian Company registered under the laws of the Republic of Ghana. Its Directors are Han Guoqing and Clement Adu Sarpong. The subject of these assertions, Mr. Han Guoqing, is a naturalized Ghanaian citizen whose certificate of naturalization is dated the 5th day of January 2017 and signed by the then Minister for the Interior. This information can be verified at the Office of the Registrar of Companies, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ministry of Interior respectively.
“The assertion that NLA has granted a licence to a Chinese company is, therefore, false and misleading and intended to cast a slur upon the Governing Board and the Management of the Authority.”
The NLA Board has issued a reminder to all Private Lottery Operators (PLOs) to ensure they regularise their operations by August 28, 2024.
“The Governing Board would like to reiterate its stance by reminding all Private Lottery Operators (PLOs) to regularise their operations by 28th August 2024, as agreed with representatives of the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) on 14th August 2024.”
