Gaming Commission gets new board
The re-constituted board of the National Gaming Commission (NGC) has been inaugurated in Accra, charged, among other things, to guide and boost the operations of the commission for the next four years.
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The 11-member board includes Mr Hammed Rashid Tunde Ali as Chairman, Mr Nicholas Issaka Gbana, Mr Emmanuel Banu, Mr Anthony Mensah and Mr Azu Sam Aziakor.
The others are Mrs Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Mr Kwame Owusu, Commissioner of Police; Mr Frank Sammy Kwofie, Mr Obeng Poku, Mrs Olivia Opoku Adomah and Mr Siisi Quainoo.
Inaugurating the board in Accra last Tuesday, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Mark Woyongo, noted with satisfaction the fact that the gaming business had seen an explosion in growth within the past three years.
He said the booming nature of the business was evident in the amount of revenue it had generated for government coffers in the past five years.
Within the period, the NGC contributed about GH¢7,000,000 to government coffers.
The NGC generates its revenue mainly from granting gaming licence, renewal of licence, gaming machine installation and registration, providing services for promotional gaming and bingo operations, among others.
Mr Woyongo recalled that when the commission started operations, there were only six casinos in the country operating in Accra and Tema.
Currently, he said, there are 23 casinos, 12 sports betting companies and four route or slot machine companies which had been licensed by the commission.
He commended the commission for its successes, despite the numerous challenges it was faced with, including inadequate staff and the absence of a comprehensive business plan over the years to guide its management and guarantee its expansion, cost effectiveness and financial goals.
The absence of a commissioner for the NGC from 2009 to 2013 curtailed most of its core operations and administrative functions and activities during the period, the minister added.
Mr Woyongo asked the board members to consider their appointment as a call to national service and urged them to work diligently to ensure that every investment made led to the creation and maintenance of a viable and respectable gaming industry locally.
Gaming Commission
The NGC regulates gaming activities in three focal areas comprising casinos, sports betting and route operations (slot machines).
It is also responsible for the supervision of the importation and installation of gaming equipment.
Until the establishment of the commission, the Ministry of the Interior had oversight responsibility for the regulation of casinos and other games of chance.
Writer’s email: doreen.andoh@graphic.com.gh