Accra, June 15, GNA - Mr Harrison Nukpor, the winner of the National Lottery Authority`s (NLA) “Lucky Hands Promotion Draw” has described his triumph as a “fluke”.
The winner of the 87,125 cedi-brand new Hyundai Elantra Saloon car explained that he had intended sending money via his mobile phone to someone but he mistakenly sent airtime instead.
Mr Nukpor, who received his prize at the forecourt of the NLA, said he then started texting his way towards the grand prize when part of the airtime was sent back to him.
He staked the lottery for about 600 times to have the edge over his 302,000 competitors, which eventually paid off.
The grand-prize winner, who hails from Akasti in the Volta Region, advised Ghanaians to stake lotto with the NLA and stand the chance of winning an award just like him.
They should shun illegal lotto operators, especially “Banker to Banker”, advised.
Many other prizes in the draw are a trip to Dubai with a total budget of GH?12,000.00; television sets and 100 pieces of smart phones valued at GH?55,000.00.
The Director-General of the NLA, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, who presented the award to Mr Nukpor, stated that the winner of the trip to Dubai would, subsequently, receive his money to be able to take off.
He explained that those who won the television sets and the mobile phones had already been presented with their prizes.
Mr Osei-Ameyaw said a few days ago, 11 Lottery Courts across the country were inaugurated as a result of the Legislation of the Lotto Act 722; within which sanctions and penalties had been stipulated to punish illegal lotto operators.
He explained that Lottery was a specialised field, hence the need for certain courts to be designated as lotto and lotto related matters.
He said the aim of the Lottery Courts was not to witch-hunt anybody, but to bring on board citizens and non-citizens who were involved in the business of illegal lotto operations.
This, he said, was to encourage them to obtain legal licences to enable them to pay their due share of taxes for the Government to carry out developmental projects for the benefit of all.
“When the immediate past Chief Justice announced the 11 Lotto Courts throughout the country, I made a plea and pledged that there will be an amnesty for about six months for all those involved in the illegal lotto operation and lotto-related activities to come forward and register with the NLA,” he said.
“What we are saying is that, Ghanaians, through their Parliamentarians, enacted this Act of Parliament and for that matter, compliance with the Act is critical.
“Those who are operating lawfully and are paying their taxes are feeling cheated by those who are not paying the taxes.”
He said the failure of these people to comply with the Law deprived the nation requisite revenue that the country needed for development.
Mr Osei-Ameyaw, therefore, called on all lotto and lottery related businesses to comply with the directive within the six months Amnesty period.
GNA
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