The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has been appointed Vice President of the African Lotteries Association (ALA).
Mr. Abdul-Salam’s appointment follows the resignation of the previous NLA Director-General, Hon. Samuel Awuku, who was elected Vice President of ALA on March 8, 2024. Upon Mr. Abdul-Salam’s appointment as the new NLA Director-General, the ALA Board of Directors unanimously approved him to serve the remaining term of office for Hon. Awuku.
During an online ALA Executive Meeting, the President of ALA, Mr. Dramane Coulibaly, along with members of the Executive Committee, congratulated Mr. Abdul-Salam and welcomed him to the team.
Mr. Abdul-Salam later paid a working visit to Loterie Nationale De Cote D’Ivoire (LONACI), where he was warmly received by Mr. Coulibaly, who also serves as the ALA President.
Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Mr. Abdul-Salam pledged to build on the work of his predecessor, Hon. Awuku, and strengthen the partnership between NLA and LONACI. He said, “I am most grateful to the President of ALA and the Executive Committee for my elevation as ALA Vice President. I pledge to work hand in hand with them to address our member bodies’ concerns and fulfill the Association’s goals.”
Mr. Abdul-Salam expressed his interest in learning from the best practices that have helped boost LONACI’s revenue and sustain its business, with plans to incorporate these practices into NLA’s operations.
Mr. Coulibaly, delighted by Mr. Abdul-Salam’s visit, emphasized the strong relationship between NLA and LONACI, and offered his full support to ensure his success in the new role.
Additionally, Mr. Abdul-Salam attended a ceremony at LONACI for the presentation of the WLA Level 2 Certification in Responsible Gaming. Mr. Coulibaly stated that this certification would help LONACI identify gaps and fulfill its obligations in promoting responsible gaming.
The certificate we have received today is proof, if proof were needed, of our commitment to respecting the principles of Responsible Gaming, as laid down by the World Lottery Association (WLA), and attests to the fact that LONACI has successfully undergone a critical self-assessment to identify the challenges it will have to meet to comply with all the principles of Responsible Gaming”. Mr. Dramane Coulibaly said.
The WLA Level 2 Certificate was presented to LONACI by the Permanent Secretary to ALA, Mr. Driss Hamdoune, who said this recognition illustrates LONACI’s commitment to ensuring a safer, more transparent and more responsible gaming environment.
Mr. Abdul-Salam congratulated the LONACI for this achievement and wished them well as they prepared to begin the process for Level 3 Certification
