It has also tasked lottery bodies in the world to take a firm stance on illegal lottery activities which according to the Association caused a loss of revenue of a total of 1.8 trillion dollars in 2022 alone.

At this year’s World Lottery Summit held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the association charged member countries to do more on responsible gaming and good causes.

Ghana’s National Lottery Authority (NLA) itself has been battling illegal lottery activities for some time now and the Authority has been determined to increase its clamp down with new measures put in place by the current Director-General.

The NLA has, a little over a year, launched its charity arm, the ‘Good Causes Foundation’, which has the objective to develop, implement and maintain an integrated action plan based on four main pillars – education, health, youth and sports development, and culture

Ghana is being represented at WLA Summit by the NLA boss, Mr Sammi Awuku and Dr George Gyamfi-Osew the immediate past Director of Operations of the Authority.

The World Lottery Authority (WLA) holds its meetings every two years but could not hold the 2020 event after the Buenos Aires, Argentina ?? in November 2018 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meetings amongst other things take stock of the various member countries’ programs, Regional reports, suspensions and expulsions from the Association.

Again, it is also to consider new members who meet the criteria and to promote Responsible Gaming and Good Causes within the various Lottery Bodies.

This year’s summit was held in Vancouver, British Columbia was attended by over 1,000 delegates drawn from various continents.

Suspension of Russia and Belarus

This year, two lottery bodies from Russia and Belarus were suspended by the Organization for their government’s role in the ongoing Russian/Ukraine conflict which has left many dead.

The holy man from Brakpan has kept his identity a secret though he is the joint winner with a woman living in the North West region who also wants to keep her identity a secret.

They split the GHC5.1 million prize which was released on the 24th of October.

The priest was shocked to discover he had won half of R14 million.

The two tried the same numbers but what makes it more amazing is that they entered their numbers manually, and on top of that they both purchased tickets to the value of R20.

The Sowetan reported that the priest thanked God for the win and that he could take care of his children.

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“I have been praying for God’s intervention for months now, asking him to ease my financial burdens so I can take care of my children and be able to do more for the church.

“My prayers particularly became more intense from July this year, I started feeling a lot of pressure and I ‘fought’ with God, asking him not to forsake me when I have been a loyal servant to him,” said the winner.

He also revealed that he had asked his late wife to speak to God on his behalf when he visited her grave and when he checked to see if he had won, he was shocked.

“A few days before I played the Lottery, I visited my wife’s grave. I pleaded with her to speak to God on behalf of our family. I believe that she is now a spiritual being who is closer to God than we are. Earlier this week, I went to check my tickets and I was pleasantly shocked to learn that I had won the Lotto Plus 2 jackpot.”

The woman, who won alongside the priest, said that she has plans to retire and buy herself a house.

The tragedy that hit one family last Wednesday has thrown the community into a state of mourning.

Over the years, luck had been eluding Wisdom Kpodo anytime he staked lotto, but when luck shone on him eventually, his joy knew no bounds, and in an ecstatic mood.

He jumped into a taxi, with registration number GT 4482 U, about 4:00 pm, with two of his friends and drove recklessly thereby killing five on the spot.

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 According to the Assembly Member for Tegbi Afedome Electoral Area, Mr Noel Kokoroko, Mr Kpodo moved the taxi from Woe near Tegbi, to Keta at top speed with others shouting “no size, no size”.

On his return to Woe, and on reaching Vakpomda, the eyewitness narrated, the driver attempted to overtake three vehicles in a row, and in the process lost control of the steering and veered into a house, which was 40 metres away from the road, ending the lives of the five persons.

The deceased are Faustina Afi  Amegashie, 70; Regina Edzia, 41; Rebecca Agbanavor, 17; Etornam Agbanavor, nine, and Charity Agbanavor Exornam, two years.

Three of the persons, Madam Regina Edzia and her three children died instantly, while the remaining two were pronounced dead on arrival at the Keta Government Hospital.

The Keta Municipal Police, which confirmed the story, said the suspect was in police custody while investigations were underway into the incident.