Samuel Awuku Defends NLA’s Spending: 95% Directed to Charitable Projects
Former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Samuel Awuku, has defended the Authority’s spending priorities, insisting that the overwhelming bulk of funds, which is about 95% were channeled into charitable projects, with only a small portion directed towards sponsorships and corporate engagements.
Awuku’s clarification comes in response to allegations that the NLA Foundation was prioritizing high-profile events and sponsorships over its mandate to support social good. According to him, the sponsorships highlighted in investigative reports, particularly by The Fourth Estate, represent only about 5% of the Authority’s budget. He stressed that these expenditures were not frivolous, but rather a strategic necessity to grow the revenue base.
“These sponsorships, I dare say, may account for approximately 5% of the total, compared to roughly 95% of projects and donations made to save and transform individuals, communities, and institutions,” Awuku emphasized.
To back his claim, Awuku outlined a range of initiatives carried out under the NLA Foundation’s four thematic pillars: Health, Education, Youth and Sports Development, and Arts and Culture.
Projects included the construction of toilet facilities and boreholes, the provision of medical equipment, scholarships, and educational support, as well as disaster relief efforts for Appiatse explosion victims and communities affected by floods in the Northern Region.
Awuku insisted that this 95/5 expenditure split clearly demonstrates that the NLA Foundation’s overwhelming focus was on life-changing interventions rather than event sponsorships.
