Fifteen persons have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in a special operation in the Sunyani Municipality for contravening the National Lotto Act, Act,722 Of 2006, which makes illegal lotto operations a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana.
The suspects � Isaac Adoma Kumi, Atta Yeboah Snr, Atta Yeboah Jnr, Justice Addo, Joseph Kyere, Datus Manu, Joyce Atiso, Mary Ray, Marfo Nicholas, Denis Kwesi Boakye, Samuel Acquah, Frank Appiah, Kojo Frimpong, Kwame Siaw and Isaac Ankama Mensah � were arrested on the basis of manufacturing lotto coupons or operating lotto marketing companies without licence.
The National Lotto Act 722 states that only the National Lottery Authority is mandated by law to run lottery. Any persons or groups operating illegal lotto activities commit a criminal offence.
On conviction, such persons will be fined or given a custodial sentence, or both.
Director-General of CID, COP Prosper Agblor has, however, cautioned the general public against illegal lotto operations.
�We therefore wish to caution the general public that any form of lottery, except lottery authorised by the National Lottery Authority, is illegal. Those who stake illegal lotto, as well as the operators of illegal lotto, face jail sentence if convicted � he noted.
It is argued that money which hitherto should have come to the government for much-needed development go into individual pockets as the illegal operators do not pay tax.
According to the police, landlords who rent out their property for such illegal activities are equally culpable and will have their properties confiscated to the state and also fined.
According to the police, investigations are ongoing to pursue and arrest illegal lottery operators across the country while the laws will be rigidly enforced.
"For the supreme interest of the state, the general public is being advised to report any suspicious lottery activity to the nearest police station or National Lottery Authority Office,� the police noted.
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