Former NLA PR Manager Defends KGL Amid Fourth Estate Allegations
Former Public Relations Manager of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku, has pushed back against reports by The Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on the NLA-KGL partnership, describing their investigations as inconsistent and misleading.
According to him, the publications about the financial dealings between NLA and KGL Technology Limited have created confusion rather than clarity. He believes the reports have unfairly painted KGL in a bad light despite the company’s consistent contribution to the sustainability of the NLA and national development.
Claims of Inconsistency
Dr. Opoku pointed out that The Fourth Estate and Sulemana Briamah have published contradictory stories over a short period.
He explained that on 19th September 2025, the outlet claimed that NLA had exchanged a “prime business for a peanut” of GHS 170 million from KGL for the year 2025.
Later, on 9th October 2025, they reported that NLA had received GHS 157.6 million from KGL for 2024.
Then, on 16th October 2025, the same publication claimed that “KGL makes millions in profit while NLA makes zero.”
He questioned the logic behind these claims, saying if NLA has received such amounts from KGL, how could anyone conclude that the Authority made no profit at all?
“According to their own reports, NLA received GHS 157.6 million in 2024 and GHS 170 million in 2025. So how does that amount to zero profit for NLA?” he asked.
NLA’s Earnings from KGL
Dr. Opoku stated that over the two-year period, NLA would receive GHS 327.6 million from KGL. He added that this figure would rise when earnings from previous years, between 2019 and 2023, are included.
He also cited The Fourth Estate’s own report from October 13, 2025, which mentioned that NLA made a GHS 17 million profit in 2019 — the very first year of its deal with KGL. This, he said, clearly disproves the notion that NLA gained nothing from the partnership.
KGL’s Profit and Taxes
Addressing concerns about KGL’s profits, Dr. Opoku revealed that the company made a GHS 70 million profit in 2024, while paying GHS 157.6 million to NLA within that same period.
He also mentioned that records from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) show KGL paid taxes in 2024 that were even higher than its profit for the year, proving the company’s compliance with tax regulations.
By the end of 2025, he said, both NLA and GRA are expected to receive payments from KGL that would again exceed the company’s annual profit.
NLA’s Debt History Before the KGL Deal
To clarify further, Dr. Opoku shared audited figures showing that NLA had already accumulated debts before the introduction of the KGL deal in November 2019.
Between 2012 and 2019, the NLA’s debts totaled over GHS 233 million, including unpaid prizes, contractor fees, SSNIT contributions, and other obligations.
He argued that these debts existed long before KGL’s involvement, so it would be inaccurate to blame the NLA-KGL deal for the Authority’s past financial struggles.
NLA’s Transfers to the Consolidated Fund
Dr. Opoku explained that NLA’s ability to transfer money to the Consolidated Fund has nothing to do with its agreement with KGL. He said such transfers are guided by the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), which requires that all operational and prize payments be settled before funds can be moved into the Consolidated Fund.
He gave several examples between 2012 and 2020 to show that even when NLA transferred large amounts to the Consolidated Fund, it still owed significant sums to lotto winners, marketing companies, and service providers.
“It would not make sense for NLA to send money to the Consolidated Fund while still owing workers, winners, and service providers,” he said.
KGL’s Support for National Development
Dr. Opoku also highlighted the significant role KGL has played in national development through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programs.
He revealed that the company invests 50–70% of its profits into social projects across the country. These include:
- The construction of a modern Mental Health Facility in Kumasi in partnership with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
- A facelift for the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
- Support to the Akropong School for the Blind.
- Donations to Keta flood victims.
- Sponsorship of the Democracy Cup initiative by Parliament.
- Financial support for the Ghana Football Association, the Black Stars, and other national teams.
- Scholarships for orphans and underprivileged children.
- Annual contributions of GHS 2 million to the NLA Good Causes Foundation and GHS 3 million to the NLA-KGL Stabilization Fund.
- Refurbishment of NLA’s Brennan Hall Draw Studio.
Dr. Opoku emphasized that these projects show KGL’s commitment to giving back to society while helping sustain the operations of the NLA.