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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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IN the heart of Ghana’s Central Region, Abura Dunkwa in the Abura-Asebu- Kwamankese District has been shaken by a dramatic rupture in its traditional leadership.
Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII, once the Gyasehene of the town, has been stripped off his stool after allegations of misconduct — including a clandestine romantic relationship with the community’s fetish priestess.
The Odompem Adwenadze Royal Family announced the destoolment last weekend, after months of mounting tension in the town.
Abusuapanyin Kwame Essoun, who led the process, declared that the chief’s removal was justified by both ritual neglect and personal indiscretions.
“He has refused to perform the necessary rites during festivals,” Essoun explained. And his affair with a fetish priestess is against our traditions,” he added.
Family elders echoed the decision. Obaapanyin Aba Appiawa revealed that repeated summons over five months were ignored.
“We invited him several times, but he didn’t come. I fully support the decision to destool him,” she said firmly.
Destoolment remains one of the most powerful disciplinary tools in Ghana’s chieftaincy system. Rooted in centuries of custom, it is the formal removal of a chief deemed unfit to serve — whether for corruption, abuse of power, neglect of ritual duties, or moral failings.
In Akan tradition, chiefs are not merely political figures; they are custodians of spiritual balance. Their authority rests on their ability to perform rites, uphold taboos, and embody moral integrity. A breach of these responsibilities can destabilise the community, making destoolment both a corrective measure and a symbolic act of purification.
“Chiefs are expected to remain above reproach,” said a local elder who requested anonymity. “When they fail, the stool itself loses respect.”
A close relative of the destooled chief, who resides at Abura Abaka near Abura Dunkwa, told The Spectator that Nana Kwefuah had been in a secret relationship with the priestess for a long time. He expressed surprise that the matter had now erupted into public view
From Kingsley E. Hope
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Empowering women is not merely an act of goodwill but a strategic investment in national development, the Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has said.
According to her, when women are given opportunities to participate fully in leadership and decision-making, the nation benefits from a broader pool of talent, ideas and perspectives.
In a message to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang praised the resilience, achievements and invaluable contributions of women to national development, urging them to take pride in their role in shaping the country’s progress.
The Vice President said Ghana’s theme for this year’s celebration: ‘Giving to Gain,’ reflected deliberate efforts being made to promote women’s participation in leadership and governance.
She explained that the intentional effort to ensure women constituted at least 30 per cent of government appointments recognised the important role women played in national development.
According to her, when women served as ministers, led key public institutions and contributed to policy formulation at the highest levels, the country benefited significantly.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that expanding opportunities for women should go beyond government institutions.
She said sectors such as business, academia, civil society, the creative industry and faith-based organisations would also benefit greatly from increased participation of women in leadership.
The Vice President, therefore called for continued support for initiatives that promoted gender equality and women’s empowerment across all sectors of society.
She also commended Ghanaian women for their resilience and dedication and wished them a happy International Women’s Day.
By Spectator Reporter
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