News
Technology kicking us out of business …Lotto operators cry
THE growing popularity of digital and online lottery platforms is steadily undermining the livelihoods of traditional lottery vendors in Accra, many of whom say the change has not only reduced their income but also affected their family lives.
Several vendors, commonly known as ‘lotto writers,’ say the shift to mobile and online lottery systems has significantly reduced the number of customers who visit their kiosks to stake games.
Some say the financial strain has become so severe that it has created tension in their homes, with a few even losing their marriages because they can no longer provide for their families as they once did.
Others indicated that they were now searching for additional jobs to supplement their lottery business to meet their household responsibilities.
The vendors, operating in areas such as Shukura, Tema Station, Laterbiokorshie, Mamprobi and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange area, shared their experiences in separate interviews with The Spectator.
Mr Michael Addy, a lotto writer for 15 years and father of four, said business had declined sharply in recent years.
According to him, he previously earned about GH¢3,000 from ticket sales and commissions after paying winning customers, but his earnings have now dropped to less than GH¢1,000.
“Although I have been able to see my children through the basic level, Senior High School and the university, there is a lot of responsibility on me as my wife left me because I am unable to earn enough to take care of the family. I wish I could find another job in addition to this lotto business but I no longer have the strength to do any hard work,” he lamented.
Another vendor, Mr Thomas Nimo, who has spent more than 20 years in the trade, recalled when customers used to gather around his kiosk early in the day, waiting for him to open so they could stake their numbers.
Today, however, he says the ‘crowd’ has disappeared.
“Only a few people who are not technological inclined come to buy tickets because they cannot play the lottery game on their phones,” he explained.
Mr Nimo added that some winners occasionally show appreciation by giving vendors a token of their winnings.
“At times some of the customers who we pay for winning the lottery game sometimes gives us a small amount as a sign of appreciation for being truthful to them,” he noted.
For Mr Alfred Nii Lartey, who has operated in Laterbiokorshie for 10 years, the business has simply become a means of survival while he searches for a better opportunity.
He also raised concerns about unlicensed private lottery operators whom some vendors unknowingly work for. When such operators are pursued by the National Lottery Authority (NLA) for breaches such as failure to pay Value Added Tax (VAT), vendors working under them often suffer the consequences.
Mr James Ankamah, a vendor at Tema Station, admitted that the decline in customers sometimes puts pressure on operators.
“Sometimes I am tempted to sell tickets to students because people don’t come to us to buy tickets and play the game,” he said.
Despite the challenges, some vendors believe their services still have a place. Mr Frank Baafi explained that unstable internet connections occasionally force players to return to the kiosks.
He added that trust also keeps some loyal customers coming back, confident that their winnings will be paid promptly.
By Benjamin Arcton –Tettey
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Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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