Lotto Operators Assoc. Challenges VAT's Decision

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, 28 September 2007
THE Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) has said recent publication in the media by the VAT Service not to supply them lot to coupons was done in bad faith.

They contend that once certain aspects of the National Lotto Act 2006 (Act 7232) which seeks to monopolise the lottery business under the new National Authority (NLA) is being challenged in a law Court, VAT Service needed to exercise restraint in enforcing t he provisions of the act .

The publications which were in the form of advertisers announcements stated that
from September 30 the service will no longer print and supply lotto coupons to VAT registered lotto operators and further urged those affected to take steps to return all unused coupons for re-imbursement.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday Mr Seth Asante Amoani Secretary of GLOA said “it is surprising that the VAT Service should have recourse to the Act at a time when certain relevant provisions of the said act are being challenged at court.

He said in some of the publications it was clear that VAT service had acted in collaboration with the NLA in t he announcements and added “but t is should not have been the case because GLOA is currently pursuing a case against NLA and hat matter has not yet been disposed off”

He said following certain averment to challenge the new National Lotto Act in their case against the NLA, the court asked both parties to come to court on October 17, to enable GLOA to make amendment in their claim and wondered why NLA could team up withy VAT to issue such a directive.

Mr Amoani further said “we are now convinced that the VAT Service is allowing itself to be embroiled in a matter which falls out side its scope of operation.”

He said it would not be out of place to state under the present circumstances that since VAT Service is no longer interested in printing and supplying lotto coupons to the private operators, that responsibility which it snatched from the association, should be discharged by them.

He said any attempt to get the private sector out of the lotto industry without due process and also allow the court to determine the case will not be good for the rule of law.

Mr Amoani hoped that the cordial relationship that had existed between the association and the VAT Service as well as all stakeholders will remain adding “we are always ready to collaborate with authorities to get the best for the lotto industry.