The National Lottery Authority has appealed to its employees to suspend their ongoing sit down strike and return to the negotiating table as efforts intensify to resolve a disagreement over the proposed salary adjustment for 2026.
The industrial dispute follows the rejection by the workers’ union of management’s proposed 12 percent salary increase, with the union instead demanding a 17 percent adjustment to cushion employees against financial pressures affecting their earnings.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 24, 2026, the National Lottery Authority said management remained committed to finding an amicable solution to the impasse and had engaged the National Labour Commission to facilitate further discussions between the two sides.
“The Management of the National Lottery Authority remains fully committed to resolving the issues at stake and is calling on the local Union and all staff to call off their sit down strike and return to the negotiation table,” the Authority stated.
The NLA explained that its proposed 12 percent adjustment had been shaped by financial constraints, including an outstanding tax liability exceeding GH¢5 million arising from the incorrect application of income tax to staff salaries between 2016 and 2022.
According to the Authority, the Ghana Revenue Authority notified management of the outstanding liability covering the six year period, prompting the Board and Management to engage the revenue agency over arrangements for settling the arrears.
The NLA said it subsequently reached an agreement with the GRA to clear the tax obligation without transferring the financial burden directly to its employees.
The Authority, however, acknowledged that the tax adjustment had affected the net salaries received by workers and had consequently become a significant factor in the union’s demand for a larger salary increase.
“The Union therefore pushed for a 17% salary increase to cushion staff,” the NLA explained.
Management said the Board initially approved a 10 percent salary increase after considering the tax liability it had undertaken to absorb as well as other financial and budgetary pressures confronting the Authority.
The NLA subsequently secured an additional 2 percent, raising its proposed adjustment to 12 percent in an effort to narrow the gap between management’s position and the workers’ expectations.
The union rejected the revised proposal, however, and subsequently declared negotiations unsuccessful before referring the dispute to the National Labour Commission for intervention.
The Authority said it also sought guidance from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission regarding an appropriate salary adjustment based on its financial circumstances.
According to the NLA, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, in a response dated June 11, recommended an 8 percent salary increase after assessing the Authority’s financial position.
Management nevertheless decided to raise its proposed adjustment beyond that recommendation, eventually increasing the offer to 12 percent in an attempt to secure an agreement with the workers.
The dispute remained unresolved, however, with the union informing management on August 21 of its intention to commence a sit down strike and demonstration from Monday, August 24.
The industrial action has consequently placed renewed pressure on management and the union to reach an agreement, particularly as the matter is already before the National Labour Commission.
The NLA is therefore urging employees to suspend the strike and resume negotiations while the appropriate labour relations mechanisms are allowed to address the outstanding issues.
Management said it remained optimistic that continued engagement with the National Labour Commission would help both sides arrive at a mutually acceptable settlement, including through arbitration if necessary.
The Authority maintained that its decision to increase the proposed adjustment from the initial 10 percent to 12 percent demonstrated its willingness to compromise despite the financial challenges created by the outstanding tax liability and other budgetary obligations.
The dispute now rests with the ongoing labour engagement process as both management and the workers seek a resolution that addresses employees’ concerns while taking into account the financial position of the National Lottery Authority.
