“Giving is not just about donating; it’s about making a difference,” Kathy Kalvin
‘Impact Through Games’ – a slogan the NLA Good Causes Foundation lives by, leaving its footprint across the nation, one project at a time.
Formerly known as Special Projects, the NLA Good Causes Foundation was rebranded upon its launch on October 20, 2021, with the objective of providing better care for the needy and supporting the underprivileged.
This stems from Section 2 (3) of the Authority’s National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), which states that “there shall be conducted as part of the operation of National Lotto a lottery with the object of providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans, and destitute children”.
With an initial funding of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($ 60,000.00) from the Loterie Nationale de Côte d’Ivoire, LONACI, the NLA’s sister lottery body in the Ivory Coast and proceeds from the NLA’s Caritas Lottery Platform, the Authority has positively impacted over two million lives and brought about transformative changes in numerous communities and institutions nationwide.
The Caritas Lottery Platform, which plays an instrumental role in the Good Causes Foundation, was introduced in 2012 to provide opportunities for commercial and Financial Institutions to run their business promotions through lottery schemes in collaboration with NLA. This is a platform on which lottery schemes are run using a random number generator to draw winners electronically. The Platform regulates consumer promotions, games of chance, raffles, or draws by companies, individuals, and well-meaning Ghanaians. This fulfils the provisions set out in Section 2 (3) of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), which authorizes the conduct of lotteries to support the less privileged in society.
The revenue generated by NLA from this platform has helped revive the Authority’s efforts to support the underprivileged through the Good Causes Foundation. Additionally, as part of the license agreement of the Authority’s third-party collaborators, private lotto operators, they pay contributions to the Foundation.
PILLARS OF THE GOOD CAUSES FOUNDATION
Headed by Mr. Kadiri Abdul Rauf Issifu, the National Coordinator, the Good Causes Foundation functions as the charity arm of the organization and leads the Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility. The Foundation’s goal is to develop, implement, and sustain a structure based on four main pillars approved by the NLA Governing Board.
The pillars are Health, Education, Youth and Sports Development, and Arts and Culture.
The Health Pillar focuses on providing infrastructure support, training mental health professionals, supplying hospitals, and expanding nationwide medical outreach services for specific conditions.
The Education Pillar focuses on providing educational support to brilliant but financially disadvantaged students. NLA also supports educational institutions with the necessary logistics and sponsors programs and projects that meet the Foundation’s objectives.
The Youth and Sports Development Pillar encompasses capacity building for youth and supports sporting activities, with a focus on developing lesser-known sports. It also assists SMEs owned by young people with technical and skills support to help them innovate. Special attention is also given to individuals with disabilities and special needs who may be interested in entrepreneurship.
The Arts and Culture Pillar supports projects that safeguard and protect Ghanaian cultural events and educational programs.
The NLA Governing Board also determines discretionary projects that the Authority undertakes annually.
PROJECTS
For 2023 and 2024, the Authority focused on constructing toilet facilities and mechanised boreholes across Ghana’s 16 regions to promote good sanitary practices in communities, complementing the government’s efforts in providing social amenities.
Ejura, Drobonso in the Ashanti Region, Essikado in the Western Region, Kwawkrom in the Central Region, Bomaa and Odumase in the Bono Region, Wesley Grammar and Wesley Girls High Schools in the Greater Accra Region, New Juabeng South in the Eastern Region, include areas that have benefited from the 20-seater toilet facilities with mechanized boreholes. These facilities have been duly commissioned and handed over to the communities.
Other areas include Aflao in the Volta Region, Garu in the Upper East Region, Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region, and Zabzugu in the Northern Region, among many others.
Building on the legacy of his predecessor, the Honourable Samuel Awuku, M.P. for Akuapem North Constituency, the Director-General of NLA, Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam-Salam, has resolved to ensure that the objective of the Foundation’s establishment is realized.
Thus, a significant amount of work has been completed over the past seven months, including the commissioning of boreholes in the Sunyani West Municipality, specifically in the Chiraa, Nsoatre, and Odumase communities. The Foundation is poised to undertake more projects in the months ahead, with a focus on providing potable water, quality healthcare, and education.
The Foundation has provided support in the following areas in 2025:
HEALTH
- The NLA Good Causes Foundation donated GHC100,000.00 to support the fight against the outbreak of meningitis in the Upper West Region. The cheque was presented to the Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, by the Director General of NLA, Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam.
- The Foundation presented GHS 100,000.00 to the Volta Regional Coordinating Council in support of victims of tidal waves in communities in the Volta Region.
EDUCATION
- The National Coordinator, Mr. Kadiri Abdul Rauf Issifu and his team commissioned an ultra-modern 3-unit classroom block at Akanteng in the Lower West Akim Municipality, Eastern Region.
- The facility has three classrooms, a headmistress’ office, a staff standard room, a kitchen and storeroom, eight washrooms, a mechanized borehole with 24/7 water supply and a modern poly tank installed.
ARTS AND CULTURE
- In support of the refurbishment of the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, the Good Causes Foundation donated a sum of Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis to its construction.
- In support of the annual Kwahu Festival, the Deputy Director-General, Mr. Eric Yeboah Wadie, together with the Good Causes Foundation, made presentations of soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, bottled water, wine, schnapps and cash to the palaces of the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III and Nkwatiamanhene, Nana Boamah Ayirippe III.
- The team has donated a sum of GHS 60,000 to the Gbese Traditional Council in support of the Homowo Festival.
YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
- The Foundation supported Real Tamale United for their playoff towards the Ghana Premier League in May 2025 with a cheque of GHS 60,000.
- The Director-General, Mr. Mohammed presented a cheque of GHS 100,000 to Blind Support, a non-governmental organization that supports persons with disabilities. This is to enable them to carry out a skills training program aimed at equipping Persons with Disabilities and Affiliates with basic entrepreneurial and employable skills.
- The Director General, Mr. Abdul Salam, presented a cheque of GHS 50,000.00 to the National Youth Authority (NYA) in support of their upcoming National Youth Festival
PRESENTATION OF CHEQUES FOR SUPPORT
The Foundation also supports individuals and institutions with financial assistance in the areas of education, medicine, and humanitarian efforts.
Over the past seven months, 92 cheques have been issued to applicants who have requested help in various areas. Of the Ninety-Two (92) cheques issued to the applicants, seventeen (17) applicants were NLA Staff. Over the years, more than 150 Staff members have been awarded scholarships and received support for medical aid.
PAST PROJECTS
Some of the projects undertaken under the various pillars over the past four years include:
HEALTH
- Medical Outreach in communities, Korle-Wokon, Somanya, Kadjebi, Boanakye and Fiapre
- Donation of Medical Equipment (incubators) to the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in collaboration with the Kokrokoo Foundation and Hope Exchange Hospital in Kumasi
- Refurbishment of Tema Polyclinic Recovery Ward, Koforidua Central Hospital Children’s Ward
- Support for Weija Leprosarium, Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Bahass Foundation, Wa and Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital.
- Support to Individuals with Medical Ailments (Baby Selina with Spinal Bifida)
- Sharing of sanitary towels for pupils in the Afigya Sekyere District
- In commemoration of May Day, the Foundation, as part of its medical outreach programs, feted and entertained head porters, cart pushers, and children in and around Tema station adjacent to the Authority’s head office.
- They were also given a health talk on their general well-being and personal hygiene, with the ladies among them given sanitary pads.
EDUCATION
- Building of a Smart Lab for the Borstal Correctional Institute in Accra
- Providing brilliant but needy students with scholarships.
- Refurbishing Schools – Mamfe Presby Primary School, Gonten Primary School
- Establishing an IT Lab in collaboration with Ask Ghana for schools in the Agona West Municipality.
- Providing educational materials and equipment for some remote schools
- Construction of a Three-Unit Classroom Block with Ancillary Facilities In Akyem Dwenase.
YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
- Support of the Government’s YouStart Program with Ten Million Ghana Cedis(GHS 10,000,000.00) in 2022, with a promise of an additional Ten Million Ghana Cedis in 2023.
- Support the Youth of Adumasa through the Nana Serwaa Brakutu Humanitarian Fund with training in Bead Making and Dress Making
- Support to Hasaacas Ladies with One Hundred Thousand Cedis
- Support to Ampem Darkoa Ladies with Forty Thousand Ghana Cedis
- Support to Henrietta Armah for an International Taekwondo Tournament in Austria
ARTS AND CULTURE
- Celebration of our culture through Festivals and our Community Draws or with Cash Donations – Kwaku Obomeng, Hogbetsotso, Fetu Afehye, Nsawam Adoagyir Odwira, Homowo, Akwasidae at Akwamufie, among many others
- Partnering with the Citi FM Heritage Caravan to celebrate our cultural heritage.
HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT
Even though it may fall outside its pillars, the NLA supports other areas when necessary.
They include:
IMPACTING LIVES THROUGH GAMES
According to the World Lottery Association (WLA), “In FY 2022, WLA member lotteries contributed almost USD 83 billion to fund good causes, and since 1999, they have raised an estimated USD 1.6 trillion.” These funds support education, care for the aged, grassroots sports, and the respective communities of member countries.
The National Lottery Authority, a member of the World Lottery Association and African Lotteries Association (ALA), has replicated the same by touching the lives of many communities, individuals, and institutions through the building of recreational centres, sanitary facilities, mechanized boreholes, refurbishing schools and hospitals, granting scholarships to brilliant but needy students, and providing educational and medical equipment, amongst many other things.
The NLA’s investment in these projects is more than a statutory obligation; it’s a way for the organization to give back to the communities it serves and demonstrate to its patrons that even when they don’t win, their contributions support a worthy cause.
