Sammi Awuku Assumes Vice Presidency of African Lotteries Association

In a significant milestone for the African Lotteries Association (ALA), Mr. Samuel Awuku, Director-General of Ghana’s National Lottery Authority (NLA), secured the position of Vice President during the ALA’s General Meeting held in Casablanca, Morocco, on March 8, 2024. This landmark election marks the first instance where a Director-General from an Anglophone country has risen to the Vice Presidency of the ALA since its inception in December 1981.

The ALA General Meeting convened members from various African nations to deliberate on the association’s Activity Report and elect new leaders for its Executive Committee. Mr. Dramane Coulibaly, Director-General of Loterie Nationale de Cote d’Ivoire (LONACI) and Co-Opted Member of ALA to the World Lottery Association (WLA), retained his position as ALA President for a four-year term.

In a shift within the association’s leadership, Mr. Omar Skali, Director-General of SOREC in Morocco, succeeded Mr. Younes El Meshrafi as General Secretary. Meanwhile, Ghana’s Mr. Samuel Awuku’s election as Vice President signals a stride towards increased representation for Anglophone countries within the predominantly Francophone ALA. Presently, ALA comprises 16 member bodies from 15 African nations, with Ghana and Liberia being the sole Anglophone member countries.

Mr. Awuku’s election, amid stiff competition, underscores the confidence bestowed upon him by his peers, especially considering his absence during the election. Mr. Awuku’s ascendancy is viewed as a pivotal moment for the ALA, aimed at bolstering integration and representation of Anglophone nations within the association.

Although Mr. Awuku couldn’t attend the meeting due to the Working Visit of the President of Malta, H.E. Dr. George Vella to NLA, he was well-represented by Mr. Andrew Tuah, NLA’s Head of Operations, and Mr. Johnson Adu, the Bilingual Communications Officer.

The newly elected ALA Executive Committee members are slated to be officially inaugurated at an Extraordinary General Assembly in the coming weeks.

This leadership transition is anticipated to inject fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm into ALA’s mandate of advancing member bodies’ interests across Africa, fostering collaboration, and promoting ethical standards within the lottery industry.

Source: Graphic online

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