The former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammy Awuku, has found himself at the center of a controversy surrounding the misuse of funds meant for charitable causes. According to an investigative report by The Fourth Estate, Awuku allegedly diverted millions of Ghana cedis intended for the poor and orphans to prominent politicians, celebrities, and organizations through the Good Causes Foundation.
The Law and Its Interpretation
Section 2(3) of Act 722 states that the NLA should conduct a lottery aimed at providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children. However, the Good Causes Foundation, established by the NLA, seems to have interpreted this law in a rather unconventional way, using the funds for purposes that appear to be unrelated to the intended beneficiaries.
Misallocated Funds: A Roll Call of Ghana’s Elite
Some notable recipients of the misallocated funds include:
– Ghana CEO Awards: GHC350,000
– Gabby Otchere-Darko’s Africa Prosperity Network Awards: GHC250,000
– GIPC’s Ghana Club 100 Awards: GHC200,000
– Asamoah Gyan’s memoir project: GHC50,000, despite being a wealthy footballer residing in a USD 3 million mansion
– Government agencies and officials: GHC570,000 for conferences and seminars at the Attorney General’s office, GHC350,000 for Independence Day celebrations, and GHC180,000 for local conferences at the National Labour Commission
Reactions and Defenses
While Awuku has defended the NLA’s Good Causes Foundation, citing its achievements in health, education, youth development, and culture, critics argue that the foundation’s actions are a betrayal of the law’s purpose. Kay Codjoe, a commentator, aptly puts it: “Call it what it is: a slush fund for prestige, a charity for the powerful, a mockery of the poor.”
The Fallout and Implications
This scandal raises questions about the accountability and transparency of organizations entrusted with public funds. The misuse of NLA funds meant for the needy highlights the need for stricter oversight and regulation to ensure that charitable organizations serve their intended purposes.
As the debate surrounding the NLA’s actions continues, one thing is clear: the intended beneficiaries of the Good Causes Foundation – the poor, the aged, and the afflicted – remain in dire need of support, while the funds meant for them are being channeled towards less pressing causes.