A private citizen has filed a Right to Information request with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Lottery Authority (NLA), seeking extensive financial and operational records on lottery and gaming companies operating in Ghana over a five-year period.
The petition, submitted in two separate letters dated May 10, 2026, and signed by Managing Editor Ayisah Foster, invokes Section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), which grants citizens the right to access information held by public institutions.
Taxes and Revenues from 36 Gaming Companies Requested
In its application to the GRA, the publication requested the Commissioner-General to disclose all taxes collected between 2020 and 2025 from 36 companies within the lottery and gaming ecosystem.
The companies listed include KGL Technology Limited, Onassis Sports Limited, Alpha Lotto Limited, Game Park Ltd, Afrilotto System Ltd, SIMNET Ghana Limited, TekStart Africa Limited, and several others.
The request seeks to establish the total tax contribution of the sector to state coffers over the five-year period, amid ongoing public debate on revenue mobilization from gaming and lottery operations.
Licence Fees, USSD Platforms, and Technical Providers Targeted
A more extensive application was filed with the NLA, demanding details of licence fees and revenues received from 33 lottery-related companies between 2020 and 2025.
The petitioner also requested financial records relating to three technical service providers Lots-Services Ghana Limited, SIMNET Ghana Limited, and TekStart Africa Limited specifically seeking to know the total amount paid to them by the NLA between 2018 and 2025.
Revenue figures generated through three USSD lottery platforms were also requested: _890#, reportedly operated by TekStart Africa Limited; _896#, linked to Alpha Lotto Limited; and *859#, associated with Onassis Sports Limited.
The NLA was further asked to clarify whether the three companies were duly licensed to operate the respective mobile lottery platforms. If they were not licensed, the petitioner requested details of any penalties imposed for allegedly operating illegally.
Historical Records and Live Draw Revenues Sought
The RTI request extends to the NLA’s historical financial records, including total current liabilities from 2012 to 2020, annual 5/90 lottery revenues over the same period, total prize payouts, and yearly lotto prize-to-revenue ratios, commonly referred to as win ratios.
Additionally, the petitioner is seeking information on the total lotto commissions paid to marketing companies selling lottery products through kiosks and point-of-sale terminals on behalf of the Authority.
One of the more significant aspects of the request concerns revenues generated from live lottery draws conducted by Alpha Lotto Limited on Ghana Television (GTV). The petitioner asked the NLA to disclose how much revenue it received from those broadcasts, citing provisions of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722) and the Lottery Regulations, 2008 (L.I. 1948), which mandate the NLA to conduct and supervise lottery draws in Ghana.
Evidence Requested on NLA’s Claims to Consolidated Fund
The application also challenges long-standing claims regarding the NLA’s financial contributions to the state.
The petitioner requested documentary evidence to support assertions that the Authority generated annual revenues or profits ranging from GH¢500 million to GH¢3 billion between 2007 and 2020 for the Consolidated Fund.
Furthermore, details were requested on licence fees and revenues generated from mobile lottery applications http://myalphaonline.com and http://theb2blotto.com between 2020 and 2025, as well as the identities of the companies licensed by the NLA to operate the platforms.
Copies of both RTI applications were sent to the Ministry of Finance and the respective board chairpersons of the GRA and NLA.
Increased Scrutiny on Lottery Sector Expected
Taxation experts and governance analysts say the request is likely to intensify scrutiny of Ghana’s lottery and gaming sector, particularly regarding taxation compliance, licensing arrangements, regulatory oversight, and the financial performance of both private operators and the NLA.
The lottery industry has faced public criticism in recent years over transparency, the award of contracts to technical service providers, and disputes over the operation of private lotto platforms.
The RTI disclosures, if granted, could provide clarity on revenues, tax obligations, and how the sector’s earnings are accounted for.
Under the RTI Act, public institutions are required to respond to information requests within 14 days, with possible extensions for records that require collation.
