- Sammy Awuku, MP and former NLA DG, has strongly rebutted The Fourth Estate’s report alleging misuse of Good Causes funds.
- Awuku says investigators wrongly mixed up marketing/sponsorship spending for the Caritas platform with Good Causes CSR allocations.
- He claims Caritas revenue rose from about GH¢100,000 (2021) to over GH¢11 million (2024), enabling CSR work.
- Awuku asserts roughly 95% of funds were used for community projects (boreholes, toilets, hospital support, scholarships).
- He rejects allegations of “purchased awards” and points to endorsements from international lottery bodies and a former head of state.
- Key documentary evidence remains requested: audited line-items, beneficiary verification, and legal clarifications on permissible spending.
- The Fourth Estate has hinted at further reporting; independent audits and on-the-ground checks are needed to settle the dispute.
Samuel “Sammy” Awuku, Member of Parliament for Akuapem North and former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority, has publicly rejected allegations that the NLA’s Good Causes funds were diverted into glitzy events instead of helping the needy.
In a forceful rebuttal, Awuku framed the investigative exposé as a category error: according to him, the reporters conflated the NLA’s marketing and sponsorship budget (linked to the Caritas lottery platform) with the funds earmarked for Good Causes projects. He says that sponsorships of high-profile events were strategic marketing investments designed to grow the Caritas customer base — and that expanded revenues then financed social interventions.
Awuku set out three cornerstone facts to back his defense. First, he draws a clear operational line between the Good Causes charity arm and marketing/sponsorship spending. Second, he cites dramatic revenue growth for the Caritas platform — from roughly GH¢100,000 in 2021 to over GH¢11 million by 2024 — arguing that this growth funded community programs. Third, he insists the lion’s share of funds (he places it at about 95%) went to visible projects: boreholes, toilets, hospital equipment, scholarships and youth programmes across Ghana’s 16 regions.
He also rejects claims that the NLA “purchased” awards, saying award partnerships recognised institutional work rather than being pay-for-play. Awuku invoked external endorsements — including recognition from the World Lottery Association and a remark from former Maltese president George Vella — to argue that Good Causes conformed with the National Lotto Act and international norms.
Still, Awuku accused the outlet of producing a lopsided story despite granting an interview in August 2025, and he insists he left the NLA stronger, more transparent and financially healthier than he found it.
Outstanding questions the rebuttal does not close
- Audit trail: Will independent, line-by-line financial records (Auditor-General reports, bank statements, or internal ledgers) be published to show how much came from marketing versus direct CSR disbursements?
- Match the figures: Do audited accounts corroborate the specific spend items cited in the investigation (e.g., GH¢90,000 for EMY Africa Awards; GH¢350,000 to Ghana CEO Awards; GH¢250,000 to Africa Prosperity Network)?
- Legal clarity: Does the National Lotto Act and its regulations clearly permit the use of Caritas marketing revenue to fund sponsorships that then indirectly support Good Causes?
- Beneficiary verification: Can independent site visits and beneficiary testimonies confirm that claimed projects (toilets, boreholes, equipment, scholarships) were completed and delivered?
- Boundary of roles: When a government agency spends on branding or sponsorship, at what point does promotion shift into impermissible use of CSR funds?
- Further findings: The Fourth Estate has signalled more reporting; will new forensic evidence emerge that changes the picture?
