Ghana's Lotto - curse or a blessing?

L. is our local shopkeeper. Her blue and white painted store made from corrogated iron is a hive of activity on Edwenase Road, just 40 metres from the Rehabilitation Centre where we work. Her opening and closing hours are dictated by the lotto man next door. He brings regular custom. People aspiring towards gaining profit to better themselves can cool off with a drink of non-alcoholic Malt Guinness. The majority work hard, very hard here. 17 hour waking days and 15 hours of work 6/7 days a week are common amongst traders. Problem is though, it's quite hard to win anything in the 30 year old Ghanaian State lotto system. Not surprising, seen as the numers range from 1-99 and you can choose a maximum of 5 numbers. A BBC article 2 years ago entitled 'Is the lottery a curse?'

Throughout both the developed and developing worlds, state lotteries are a voluntary tax on those who can least afford it. The English proverb that "A fool and his money are soon parted." may be true, but a government that taxes the poor is just as foolish. Unfortunately with state lotteries both those who stake the lottery and the governments who run them quickly get addicted to them.
Kwabena Peacock, Nkonya Ghana

The national lottery in Ghana has contributed to the development of roads and other social amenities. it has contributed to employment especially to university students who are on vacations. but we should not forget that this same thing is causing the break down of families. money to buy food and pay fees are used to gamble. to a larger extend I think lottery has helped in the development of my country.Daniel Bassah, Accra- Ghana

But there is a secret system of success that not so many know about, according to L. In the event of a car crash, witnesses or those who hear the crunch of metal upon metal and the shattering windows best get to the scene of the accident as speedily as possible. Why? Well, the registration number(s) of the car which has just crashed into something or somebody, in particular if blood has been spilled, holds particular significance if it falls on the same day as the lotto draw is due to take place.

So with lotto card at hand, one should immediately note down the numbers on the battered car reg. I hinted to L. that it would be worth us buying two old bangers and staging a 'crash' so we could split the profits. I added that I wouldn't mind bumping my head off the steering wheel and shedding a little blood to up our chances of success. She laughed and said it doesn't work like that.

I remain confused as to whether a car reg. numbered 972635-GH holds a lucky combination of 97,2,63 and 5 with one number missing or 9,7,2,6,35 or 9,7,26,3,5 or anything else you can think of. Truth is, I don't think L. will be winning the lotto anytime soon. There are just way too many car crashes here to figure out which combination of numbers are the luckiest ones!