Associate Editor at The Fourth Estate, Seth Bokpe, has stressed that the National Lottery Authority’s (NLA) success in boosting revenue under former Director-General Sammy Awuku should not shield the institution from scrutiny over how those funds were managed.
Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews on Friday, September 26, Mr Bokpe addressed the findings of The Fourth Estate’s exposé on the NLA and responded to Mr Awuku’s defence of his record.
He explained that the Caritas Lottery is a key source of funding for the Good Causes Foundation, with proceeds used to support the foundation’s various projects.
“So the Caritas is a source of funding for the Good Causes Foundation. Revenue raised from the Caritas Lottery is what they use in funding the Good Causes Foundation,” Mr Bokpe clarified.
While acknowledging Mr Awuku’s efforts in significantly increasing lottery revenue, Mr Bokpe gave credit where it was due.
“For instance, he mentions that when he came, it was just 100,000 that the Caritas Lottery was making. He managed, through his ingenuity, thanks to him. We don’t dispute that. He’s done a good job with that,” he said.
However, Mr Bokpe was firm that financial achievements do not absolve public officials of accountability.
“But the fact that you’ve been successful in raising funds does not mean that when the funds are mismanaged, as we insist he did, we should not raise questions about it.
“It’s like telling us that when the government develops our country, but we find issues of corruption, we shouldn’t talk about it. I’m not saying he’s done anything corrupt,” he added.
Mr Bokpe’s comments come amid ongoing public debate sparked by The Fourth Estate’s investigative report into the NLA’s operations and use of funds under Mr Awuku’s leadership.
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