The National Lottery Authority (NLA), in partnership with Fidelity Bank, has signed an agreement to deploy 5,000 modern Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals across the country, with technology partner Blue Penguin also on board.
The move forms part of efforts to transition the Authority’s lottery operations away from outdated 2G technology to a modern digital platform. The shift is expected to improve network connectivity, speed up transactions, increase instant prize payments, and strengthen the NLA’s competitiveness in the lottery market.
Speaking at the official launch and signing ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Director-General of the NLA, Alhaji Mohammed Abdul-Salam, described the project as a major milestone in the Authority’s digital transformation journey, following years of unsuccessful attempts to modernise its retail channel.
He said the existing POS system had relied on ageing 2G technology for almost a decade, resulting in slow transactions and operational challenges for Lotto Marketing Companies (LMCs).
“We are replacing obsolete terminals and unreliable 2G connections with modern equipment and dependable network infrastructure,” he said.
Alhaji Abdul-Salam described the Fidelity Bank partnership as a private sector-led investment that would see the bank and its partners provide the new terminals, unlike previous arrangements where the NLA procured the equipment directly.
He explained that earlier attempts by the Authority to procure the machines had failed, making it necessary to adopt a different approach.
He said the rollout of the 5,000 terminals would enable LMCs to compete more effectively with licensed Private Lotto Operators while increasing revenue generation for the state. He stressed that the purpose of the lottery was not to make individuals wealthy but to generate funds for national development.
“The whole business of lottery is supposed to generate more revenue for the state for development,” he said.
A key feature of the new system, according to him, is an increase in the instant prize payment limit from GH¢1,200 to GH¢30,000 through the POS terminals.
For winnings above that threshold, he said Fidelity Bank would introduce a discounting arrangement that would allow qualifying winners to receive their money immediately from the bank, while the NLA settles the amount with the bank over an agreed period.
Alhaji Abdul-Salam said the new payment structure would boost customer confidence without negatively affecting the Authority’s cash flow.
The Deputy Managing Director in charge of Wholesale Banking at Fidelity Bank Ghana, Mr Kwabena Boateng, said the partnership was designed to address challenges affecting customers, Lotto Marketing Companies, and the NLA.
He noted that poor network connectivity, outdated POS devices, and weaknesses in collections had reduced efficiency and affected revenue generation.
Mr Boateng said Fidelity Bank had worked with its technology partners to develop a solution that would improve connectivity and strengthen the Authority’s collection platform. He expressed confidence that the new technology would help the NLA achieve its revenue targets and further deepen its contribution to national development.
