When Parliament passed Act 722, the law establishing the National Lottery Authority (NLA), it required that part of the lottery’s proceeds be dedicated to supporting society’s most vulnerable: orphans, the aged, the destitute, and the physically or mentally afflicted.
That legal requirement birthed the Good Causes Foundation. But instead of being a lifeline for the poor, leaked disbursement records reveal that millions of cedis were redirected to Ghana’s political elites, corporate big names, and even wealthy celebrities.
Below are some of the most striking beneficiaries.
Rebecca Foundation – GHC200,000 for Women’s Day
The Foundation of former First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo received GHC200,000 from the Good Causes Fund to organize the Annual First Lady’s Women’s Day celebrations.
Critics argue this allocation was a betrayal of the mandate of the fund, which was intended for destitute children and the needy—not political officeholders’ pet foundations.
Danquah Institute – GHC40,000 for Advocacy Program
The Danquah Institute, led at the time by Richard Ahiagbah (now NPP Director of Communications), was handed GHC40,000 to sponsor its Advocacy Chatroom Program.
As a politically aligned think tank, its funding raised serious questions about whether Good Causes money was used as a slush fund for partisan institutions.
Atta Mills Institute – GHC50,000 for 10th Anniversary
Founded by Koku Anyidoho, the Atta Mills Institute received GHC50,000 for the 10th Anniversary of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
Approved under the Akufo-Addo administration, critics say the disbursement highlights how memorial events and political symbolism were prioritized over the urgent needs of orphans and psychiatric patients.
Africa Prosperity Network – GHC250,000 for Elite Summits
The Africa Prosperity Network (APN), chaired by lawyer and NPP stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, was given GHC250,000 to support the Kwahu Business Summit (2023) and the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (2024).
While the events attracted high-level political and business figures, they stood in stark contrast to the fund’s original mission of supporting society’s most vulnerable groups.
Asamoah Gyan’s Memoir – GHC50,000
One of Ghana’s wealthiest footballers, Asamoah Gyan, received GHC50,000 from the Good Causes Fund for his memoir project.
The revelation shocked many Ghanaians, who questioned why a millionaire footballer living in a USD 3 million mansion should benefit from funds meant for the destitute.
CEO and Elite Awards – Hundreds of Thousands of Cedis
The Good Causes Fund also poured money into elite award shows:
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Ghana CEO Awards – GHC350,000
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Africa Prosperity Network Awards – GHC250,000
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Ghana Club 100 Awards – GHC200,000
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EMY Africa Awards – GHC90,000
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Glitz Africa Women of the Year – GHC80,000
These events celebrated corporate executives and business magnates—the very definition of privilege—while Ghana’s orphanages and psychiatric hospitals continued to languish.
The Bigger Picture: A Betrayal of Purpose
From First Ladies and think tanks to celebrity memoirs and corporate awards, the Good Causes Fund was systematically diverted from its original purpose. Instead of reaching orphans, the aged, and destitute children, the money bankrolled high-profile events, political programs, and personal legacies.
Former NLA boss Samuel Awuku, now MP for Akuapem North, defended the spending as part of NLA’s “broader social obligations.” But critics argue the disbursements represent a gross abuse of mandate, turning a social welfare fund into a cash pot for Ghana’s elite.
As psychiatric hospitals battle overcrowding, and orphanages rely on charity, the question remains: who truly benefitted from Ghana’s Good Causes Fund—the needy, or the powerful?
source: thefourthestategh.com
