NLA Boss explores Tech partnerships in China to transform lottery operations

The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, recently visited China. This trip aimed to advance the NLA’s digital agenda.

He met with Genlot Game Technology and attended the Huawei Executive Exchange. The goal was to modernize Ghana’s lottery systems and extend services to rural areas. They also aimed to combat unregulated paper-based operations.

The visit began in Shenzhen at Genlot Game Technology’s headquarters. Mr. Abdul-Salam met with senior executives, including CEO Franz Liu and CTO Hui Shou. Key members from their international business development and research teams were also present.

Huawei representatives joined the discussions, including Meng Gencang, a Government Solutions Expert. Genlot showcased various lottery innovations during these meetings. They presented secure Point-of-Sale (POS) systems for low-infrastructure environments.

Mr. Abdul-Salam showed strong interest in these POS technologies. He believes they could help digitize rural lottery operations and reduce illegal ticket sales. Huawei discussed integrating Genlot’s hardware with its cloud infrastructure for better security.

The NLA team also participated in the Huawei Executive Exchange at Huawei's Shenzhen facilities. This event featured demonstrations by top experts like Xia Zun and Ian Zhu from Huawei Ghana.

Presentations focused on how AI tools and cloud platforms can improve efficiency in public services. Huawei exhibited next-generation solutions, including smart city integrations and 5G connectivity.

These technologies could greatly enhance Ghana’s digital lottery infrastructure. The visit included facility tours and cultural exchanges in Dongguan and Shenzhen as well.

The team toured Huawei’s European Town campus in Dongguan and visited Sanyapo Library for insights into innovation ecosystems. They also tested smart devices at the Huawei flagship store.

The trip concluded with a farewell dinner and city tour, strengthening partnerships between NLA and Chinese companies. Several key takeaways emerged from this visit.

Genlot's POS systems are vital for expanding into rural areas, while Huawei's infrastructure is crucial for securing operations. Both companies expressed interest in collaborative pilot projects to drive innovation in Ghana's lottery sector.

To move forward, the NLA will form a technical committee to assess proposed technologies. Discussions for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Huawei Ghana will begin soon under Ian Zhu's leadership. A follow-up virtual session with Genlot’s international team will also be scheduled to finalize procurement timelines.