NLA boss seeks tech partnerships in China to modernize Ghana’s lottery

By: Ernest Afram

The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mr Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has embarked on a strategic visit to China aimed at accelerating the Authority’s digital transformation agenda. The working tour included high-level meetings with leading technology firms Genlot Game Technology and Huawei Technologies, as the NLA seeks to modernize Ghana’s lottery systems, extend services to underserved areas, and clamp down on unregulated paper-based operations.

The visit began in Shenzhen with a detailed engagement at the headquarters of Genlot Game Technology, a global lottery technology company. Mr Abdul-Salam met with senior executives including Genlot CEO Franz Liu and Chief Technology Officer Hui Shou, as well as members of the company’s international business development and research teams.

Discussions focused on the potential deployment of Genlot’s secure and scalable Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, which are designed for use in low-infrastructure environments. The NLA Director-General expressed strong interest in these technologies, describing them as key to digitizing rural lottery operations and reducing illegal ticket sales.

“Our visit has provided insight into Genlot’s innovative solutions, particularly the POS systems that can work efficiently in areas with limited infrastructure, these tools are essential to our plan of expanding regulated lottery operations to all parts of Ghana.” He said.

Huawei Technologies also featured prominently in the NLA’s itinerary. The delegation participated in the Huawei Executive Exchange at the company’s Shenzhen facilities, where they were hosted by top executives including Xia Zun, Chief Operating Officer of Huawei’s Global Public Sector Business Unit, and Ian Zhu, Head of Huawei Ghana’s Enterprise Business Group.

Huawei highlighted how its artificial intelligence tools, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity infrastructure could support the NLA’s operational efficiency, data protection, and service delivery. Demonstrations at the Shannon and Planck exhibition halls showcased next-generation technologies, including smart city applications and 5G integration tools that could further enhance the NLA’s capacity to operate securely and at scale.

The visit also included a tour of Huawei’s European Town campus in Dongguan, where the Ghanaian delegation explored the company’s innovation culture at locations such as the Sanyapo Library and Huawei’s flagship store, where they interacted with new-generation smart devices.

Beyond the technical discussions, the trip offered opportunities for cultural exchange and further strengthened the sense of partnership between the NLA and its Chinese counterparts. The visit concluded with a city tour and farewell dinner, solidifying commitments made during the meetings.

Key takeaways from the mission included Genlot’s readiness to partner with the NLA on deploying its POS systems across Ghana, and Huawei’s willingness to provide the digital infrastructure needed to secure and scale the Authority’s operations.

Both companies expressed enthusiasm for joint pilot projects and training programs that could build capacity within Ghana’s lottery sector.

To move these ideas forward, the NLA will establish a technical committee to assess the proposed solutions in detail. Additionally, discussions are expected to begin soon for a Memorandum of Understanding with Huawei Ghana, led by Ian Zhu. A follow-up virtual meeting with Genlot’s international team will also be scheduled to discuss procurement timelines and implementation plans. Mr Abdul-Salam’s visit marks a bold step toward positioning the NLA as a modern, technology-driven institution capable of delivering secure, accessible, and efficient lottery services to all Ghanaians.