News Guide Africa

Tag: Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

  • Presidential Committee’s findings contradict Fourth Estate claims on NLA-KGL deal – former NLA Official

    Presidential Committee’s findings contradict Fourth Estate claims on NLA-KGL deal – former NLA Official

    By News Desk

    A fierce war of words has erupted following a public statement issued by the former Head of Public Relations at the National Lottery Authority, Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku, who has vehemently accused investigative media outlet The Fourth Estate of peddling “barefaced lies” and “misleading the public” regarding the ongoing review of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and KGL Group partnership agreement.

    The prominent political and social commentator argues that, recent claims by the media house suggesting that a government-instituted committee’s findings validate their previous reportage are entirely false, malicious, and a calculated attempt to twist facts.

     

    The Core of the Dispute

    The controversy stems from a series of publications by The Fourth Estate which heavily criticized the NLA-KGL deal, labeling it “terrible” and aggressively demanding its immediate termination.

    In a sharp rebuttal, Dr. Opoku pointed out that in the interest of transparency, the President of the Republic ordered a committee to investigate the matter. However, the committee’s final directive fundamentally contradicted the media house’s agenda. Rather than canceling the contract, the committee recommended a stay of execution and a structured renegotiation of the financial terms to maximize benefits for the state.

    “The Fourth Estate, right from the beginning, had been calling for the abrogation of the NLA-KGL deal,” Dr. Opoku stated. “However, this description has never been backed with any reasonable conclusion or substantial evidence by the Fourth Estate or its surrogates.”

     

    “Why the Backtracking?”

    Dr. Opoku questioned why The Fourth Estate is now allegedly attempting to align its previous narrative with the committee’s actual findings, calling out the media organization for what he described as a lack of professional integrity.

    “The Fourth Estate maliciously and mischievously labelled the KGL-NLA deal as terrible and called for the abrogation of the deal. It never called for renegotiation,” Dr. Opoku argued. “Why the backtracking? Why not be truthful? We expected that, if not for cheap sentimentalism and parochialism, the Fourth Estate would have rendered an unqualified apology to KGL.”

     

    He further noted that the media house’s lack of relevance to the actual governance process is evident in their exclusion from the official proceedings.

    “Again, if the Fourth Estate were that consequential, it would have been considered as part of the ongoing renegotiation. No one at the Fourth Estate or among its surrogates can pressure the Committee, which has the mandate, to rush and interfere with its professional work,” he added.

     

    Renegotiations Strictly Commercial, Not for Social Media

    The statement emphasized that all parties involved in the NLA-KGL agreement are actively engaged in a lawful, structured process aimed at securing Ghana’s economic interests. Dr. Opoku warned that state-level commercial agreements cannot be influenced by media campaigns or public sensationalism.

     

    “Renegotiations are NOT done on social media or at the headquarters of the Fourth Estate,” Dr. Opoku maintained. “This is an important national exercise, devoid of sensationalism, propaganda, and the twisting of narratives. All parties sincerely appreciate the urgency of this important renegotiation, but this is strictly a legal and commercial agreement that must adhere to the legal rights of each party.”

     

    Defense of Indigenous Businesses

    Concluding his remarks, Dr. Opoku defended the track record of KGL Group, a major corporate entity and a prominent headline sponsor of Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars. He criticized The Fourth Estate and its parent organization, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), accusing them of routinely trying to dismantle local corporate successes.

    “KGL is fully committed to the Republic and will never waste its time on those who seek to undermine and destroy indigenous businesses, as is the habit of the Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa,” Dr. Opoku concluded.

     

    At the time of going to press, the leadership of The Fourth Estate had not yet issued a formal response to Dr. Opoku’s blistering critique.

     

  • FACT-CHECK: Inconsistent financial figures dent credibility of attacks on NLA-KGL deal …Call grows to protect local businesses

    FACT-CHECK: Inconsistent financial figures dent credibility of attacks on NLA-KGL deal …Call grows to protect local businesses

    Public policy experts and corporate analysts are calling for a more objective, data-driven approach to discussing major public-private partnerships, following what critics describe as highly inconsistent and contradictory allegations leveled against the operational deal between the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and KGL Technology Limited.

    The ongoing media campaign led by the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has come under intense scrutiny. Observers point out that a close review of his public statements reveals fluctuating financial claims that raise serious questions about the credibility and reliability of his assertions.

    Shifting Figures and Contradictory Claims

    A chronological tracking of social media commentary exposes sharp inconsistencies in the figures presented to the public.

    ● On 5th August 2025, as captured in the file named FB_IMG_1780508517180.jpg, a post asserted that “the NLA-KGL deal must be abrogated immediately” because “Ghana is losing millions every week.”

    ● Scarcely six weeks later, on 19th September 2025, another post referenced via the file named FB_IMG_1780508528838.jpg shifted the narrative entirely, questioning how a state business generating “GHC 3 billion” could be given to a private company in exchange for “GHC 170 million.”

    ● Today, 3rd June 2026, the narrative has shifted yet again. In a new update under the file named FB_IMG_1780508533026.jpg, the claim has altered to state that the deal is about Ghana “loosing close to GHC 1 billion every year.”

    “Smart and intelligent investigators substantiate their allegations with concrete facts and verified data,” a corporate governance analyst remarked on the condition of anonymity. “When an commentator continuously throws around vastly inconsistent facts and figures within a short timeframe, it suggests that the underlying analysis may be driven by sentiment rather than audited financial realities.”

    What Did the Presidential Committee Actually Say?

    The continuous demands for the outright termination of the partnership run contrary to the official findings of state-level investigations.

    Contrary to the impression created in these public attacks, the independent committee set up by the President did not validate claims of the state losing “millions every week,” a “GHC 3 billion business,” or “GHC 1 billion every year” due to KGL’s operations.

    Crucially, the presidential committee never recommended that the NLA-KGL deal should be abrogated. Instead, the consensus among state oversight bodies has focused on regulatory oversight and contract optimization safeguarding the state’s interests by refining the partnership rather than tearing it down completely. Critics argue that the apparent hostility directed toward KGL has clouded objective judgment, resulting in claims that misinform and mislead followers.

    Supporting Ghanaian Industry While Correcting Flaws

    Industry stakeholders argue that the focus should remain on building and scaling indigenous Ghanaian enterprises. KGL Technology Limited is a wholly Ghanaian-owned business that has driven digital innovation within the local lottery ecosystem, creating significant employment and keeping capital within the domestic economy.

     

    The prevailing view among economic pragmatists is that the KGL-NLA partnership must be encouraged and sustained, while any identified administrative or structural flaws are systematically corrected.

    Abrogating contracts based on fluctuating public allegations threatens investor confidence and undermines the growth of local champions. The path forward for Ghana’s public sector lies in rigorous, data-backed oversight that protects the national purse while actively empowering Ghanaian businesses to thrive.

     

     

     

  • ECOWAS position media as strategic partner to drive Biometric Identity Card sensitization

    ECOWAS position media as strategic partner to drive Biometric Identity Card sensitization

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed

    In a major step toward strengthening sub-regional security and advancing West African integration, the Ecowas Commission has convened a high-level media sensitization workshop in Accra.

    The initiative aims to equip journalists and media practitioners with the necessary insights to report accurately on the implementation of the Ecowas National Biometric Identity Card (Enbic).

    By building a strategic network of media partners, regional authorities hope to foster public trust, raise widespread awareness, and combat deep-seated misinformation surrounding the initiative across member states.

    Driving Free Movement and Regional Security

    The introduction of the Enbic stands as a core priority originally agreed upon by the Authority of Heads of State and Government during the 46th Ecowas Ordinary Summit. Designed to serve as an official travel document, the biometric card is engineered to promote regional integration and fully facilitate the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons.

    Speaking at the opening of the session, a representative from the Ecowas Directorate of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism emphasized that the card bridges the gap between regional security and economic fluidness.

    “The Enbic framework is not merely an identification tool; it is a transformative regional asset. By deploying robust biometric identity standards, we are positioning the sub-region to effectively mitigate irregular migration, tackle sophisticated trans-border crimes, and enhance the overall interoperability of our identity management systems,” Albert Siaw Boateng stated.

    Beyond enhancing economic and social mobility for citizens, technical experts noted that the identity management system will ensure greater data integrity at all border checkpoints.

    The Crucial Role of Journalism in Public Trust

    Recognizing that public acceptance hinges entirely on transparent, timely, and accurate information, the Ecowas Commission has mandated targeted advocacy initiatives to demystify the roll-out process.

    A senior official from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) reminded participating journalists from print, broadcast, and digital platforms of their unique ethical responsibilities during this transition.

    “The media serves as the ultimate bridge between policy architects and the populace. If the citizens do not understand the security safeguards, privacy controls, and data protection measures embedded within the Enbic, skepticism will thrive. Our role is to dissect the technicalities, address sensitive public concerns, and report with the clarity that drives conscious regional adoption,” the MFWA manager, Dr Kojo Impraim noted while facilitating a session.

    Technical Roadmap and Collaborative Implementation

    The comprehensive workshop featured direct technical presentations and interactive strategy sessions designed to map out implementation timelines and institutional responsibilities.

    During the presentations, officials from the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) provided a detailed breakdown of internal processes, detailing how the issuance, control, and application procedures will be securely managed within Ghana’s borders.

    “Operational success depends heavily on joint border management synergy and clear communication. This forum provides us with an invaluable platform to lay bare the institutional roles and operational safeguards that protect the identity ecosystem, ensuring that both immigration officers and travelers experience a secure, seamless transition,” GIS technical expert, Deputy Commissioner, Justice Amevor remarked during the afternoon plenary.

    The session concluded with an open forum where media professionals voiced anticipated challenges, data protection gaps, and communication bottlenecks. The discussions culminated in a joint list of strategic recommendations aimed at forging a lasting partnership between implementing state agencies and West African media houses to guarantee a smooth rollout of the biometric card across the sub-region.