The boss of Ghana’s National Lottery Authority is at the centre of a growing storm after pushing for a massive pay rise and big-money perks, raising fresh questions over oversight at the state agency.
Mohammed Abdul-Salam is said to have petitioned the board of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) for a steep salary increase, alongside additional allowances, according to sources familiar with the matter.
At the heart of the request is a proposed review of his monthly salary, currently put at about GH¢38,000. While insiders differ on the exact figure he is seeking, the overall adjustment has been described as sharp, with estimates pointing to a rise of more than 80%.
But the demands did not stop there. Abdul-Salam is also reported to have asked for a $6,000 monthly rent allowance, a level of housing benefit far above what is typically seen in the public sector.
BOARD PUSHBACK
Sources say the NLA board did not immediately sign off on the proposal. Instead, members are understood to have urged the chief executive to benchmark his pay against comparable agencies and return with a clear justification for any increase.
He was advised to review the salary structures of at least three or four similar institutions and present a case if an upward adjustment was warranted.
However, in a move that has unsettled insiders, Abdul-Salam is said to have taken his case beyond the board, quietly petitioning the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to press for a review of his pay.
The step has been interpreted by some as an attempt to sidestep internal processes.
$108K RENT CASH
Further raising eyebrows are claims that the lottery chief has already drawn down $108,000 for accommodation.
Based on his own proposed rent of $6,000 a month, the amount would cover 18 months, prompting questions over how the payment was approved and whether it aligns with standard procedures.
The developments come at a time of heightened public scrutiny over pay and perks in state institutions, with critics warning that executive compensation must reflect the wider economic pressures facing ordinary Ghanaians.
Efforts to reach Abdul-Salam for comment were unsuccessful.
Story By Charles McCarthy
