Former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and current MP for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, has strongly rejected claims made in a recent Fourth Estate investigation, accusing the media outlet of a “fundamental and deliberate error” in its reporting.

In a detailed rebuttal, Mr. Awuku said the publication misleadingly conflated strategic marketing expenditures with the core funds of the NLA Good Causes Foundation.

He described the report as “a lopsided story” that disregarded the significant impact the Foundation has made, despite granting the outlet an interview on August 18, 2025.

Providing context, Mr Awuku explained that the NLA Caritas Lottery Platform, established under the National Lotto Act, is the Authority’s revenue-generating arm.

He clarified that sponsorships for major events such as the Africa Prosperity Dialogue and the Ghana CEO Summit were marketing initiatives designed to attract influential industry stakeholders.

“The association with these brands brought several benefits to the NLA, including increased brand awareness and visibility. This helped the Authority pitch its brand to industry leaders for collaborations, thereby generating revenue for the Caritas Lottery Platform, which in turn funds the Good Causes Foundation,” he said.

According to him, this approach successfully transformed the Caritas Platform “from a negligible kitty” into one that generated over GH¢11 million between 2021 and 2024.

Mr. Awuku framed the investigation as “mischief,” arguing that it sought to mislead the public by blurring the lines between essential revenue-generation activities and the charitable disbursements they finance.

He reiterated that the NLA’s marketing investments were strategic, necessary for growth, and ultimately beneficial to the Good Causes Foundation’s mandate of supporting social interventions across the country.