The Daily Gist newspaper has reported that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) may be examining matters connected to the tenure of former National Lottery Authority (NLA) Director-General and current Akuapem North Member of Parliament, Sammi Awuku, raising fresh political questions over investigations involving former appointees of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

Information gathered from political source suggests that investigators have been looking into aspects of Sammi Awuku’s stewardship of the NLA, including the Authority’s relationship with KGL, licensing arrangements and matters connected to the NLA’s Good Causes Foundation.

However, there is currently no confirmation that EOCO has invited, arrested, charged or formally accused him of wrongdoing in relation to any of these matters.

The probe according to sources is aimed at silencing him since he has become too loud and his open criticism of the current administration.

When contacted over the claims, Sammi Awuku confirmed that he had heard similar reports from his own sources but stressed that he had received no invitation from EOCO.

According to the Akuapem North legislator, he has not been officially informed that he is the subject of an investigation and has therefore not been presented with any allegations requiring a response.

Sources making the claims further allege that investigators could seek to examine Awuku’s responsibility as the then head of the NLA, including whether decisions taken during his administration resulted in any financial loss to the state and what level of knowledge or responsibility could be attributed to him.

Those assertions remain allegations, and no publicly disclosed finding from EOCO establishing financial loss or wrongdoing on Awuku’s part has been cited.

More controversially, sources within NPP circles claim that the alleged interest in Sammi Awuku may have a political dimension.

They contend that some elements within government are uncomfortable with his increasingly vocal criticism of President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

Awuku has in recent months emerged as one of the opposition figures consistently attacking government policy.

He has criticised utility tariff increases, the government’s response to flooding, public appointments, and the conduct of some state institutions.

He has also previously accused EOCO and other investigative bodies of unfairly targeting former Akufo-Addo government officials, urging security and investigative agencies to demonstrate loyalty to the state rather than political officeholders.

At a Leadership and Law Series in April, Sammi Awuku complained about what he considered the treatment of former NPP appointees and urged personnel of EOCO and the National Intelligence Bureau to maintain professionalism and political neutrality.

Against that background, some of his allies believe any move against him could fuel the NPP’s broader narrative that state investigative agencies are being deployed against political opponents.

There is, however, no independently established evidence that any possible EOCO inquiry into Awuku is motivated by his criticism of the Mahama administration.

Sources have additionally claimed that formal action could be delayed until Parliament goes on recess. That assertion has also not been independently confirmed.

Sammi Awuku’s period at the NLA remains central to the emerging claims. He was appointed Director-General of the Authority during the Akufo-Addo administration and later resigned to pursue his parliamentary ambitions in Akuapem North.

His tenure saw increased emphasis on digital lottery operations, partnerships with private-sector operators and the NLA’s Good Causes initiatives.

The NLA-KGL relationship was among the prominent arrangements during that period, with KGL operating within the digital lottery ecosystem. Any investigation would therefore be expected to distinguish between institutional decisions, contractual or licensing obligations and the personal responsibility, if any, of officials who supervised the Authority.

The latest reports also come amid continuing political tension between the NDC government and the opposition NPP over investigations involving former government officials.

NPP figures have repeatedly accused the administration of politically motivated prosecutions, while government officials have maintained that persons suspected of wrongdoing must account for their stewardship.