A Private lotto ('banker to banker') operator, who is also the New Patriotic Party's chairman for the New Abirem Constituency of the Eastern Region, Mr. Charles Anim (a.k.a 'Apollo') is alleged to have issued a fake cheque to a herbal doctor, Kwame Dwamena, who won GH¢3,400 after staking his 'sure banker' in 'Apollo's lotto establishment.

The man, who was swindled, said he went through great difficulties after several excuses from 'Apollo' before he eventually received a post-dated cheque from him which later turned out to be fake.

Although Parliament passed an act to give absolute lotto operations to the National Lottery Authority (NLA), yet 'banker to banker' is still popular among some lotto stakers who patronise it illegally.

The alleged fake cheque, according to the herbal doctor, was reported to the Nkawkaw Police, where the lotto was staked. He expressed his displeasure that as soon as he got the cheque, he also handed it over to one 'King Yellow', who had lent him some money and had been pursuing him for a long time, but to his utter disgrace and disappointment, the cheque was detected at the bank to be fake.

Dr. Kwame Dwamena explained further that when the news about the fake cheque he had issued started spreading, he quickly borrowed money from another source and settled his debt and immediately began his hunt for' Apollo' to secure his GH¢3,400 lotto fortune.

Meanwhile, Mr. Charles Anim refuted the allegation when contacted saying, "This man is my business rival; we are' all distributors of Agyare Appiah Gin bitters in Nkawkaw and its environs and I'm surprised why he is deliberately peddling this lie about me."

He however admitted to have issued the cheque but explained that he later contacted his bankers to hold on to the payment due to personal reasons he was not prepared to disclose.

He stated again that it was a legal practice for agents of National Lottery Authority to make payment on behalf of the Authority, and indicated that he always fulfilled his obligation to lotto winners.


Credit: New Crusading Guide/Ghana