MTN Ghana Go Rio promo halted
TELECOMS
By BiztechAfrica – April 28, 2014, 11:24 a.m.
By Nana Appiah Acquaye, Accra, Ghana
MTN Ghana has been asked by an Accra circuit court to halt its MTN GO RIO promotion geared towards rewarding customers during the Brazil 2014 world cup season. The court granted an interim injunction restraining MTN Ghana from continuing the MTN go Rio promotion
The promotion, which was launch in the first week of April this year, has been designed to reward customers of MTN Ghana with prizes including Kia Rio saloon car, an all expense paid trip to brazil, 32-inch Samsung LED TVs, Samsung galaxy tab, phones and airtime
The National Lottery Authority moved an exparte application in the court, presided over by Frances Obiri to stop MTN from holding the promotion.
In the NLAs reliefs, they are seeking a declaration that the promotion is not a consumer or marketing promotion but in fact and law a lottery is define by the court of Ghana and prohibited by section 4(1)of the national lotto act, 2006(act 772)
The NLA also want a declaration that the promotion has all the attributes and elements of a lottery under the laws of the republic of Ghana, being the existence of a prize to be won through the draw or chance after spending a little more on voice, data, an SMS than usual as a pre condition for obtaining the opportunity to stand the chance to win a fantastic prize.
The lottery authority is praying the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, its agents, assigns, privies, and workmen from sponsoring, promoting, conducting, and or advertising the promotion.
The NLA further want a permanent injunction restraining the defendant, its agents, assigns, servants, affiliates, associates and work men, either by themselves or in conjunction or association with any individual organization, from arranging, promoting, sponsoring, organizing any draw for determining anyone or more purported winners In the said promo.
The authority is also praying the court for an order for accounting, it and financial auditing of the books and equipment used to conduct the lottery to determine revenue generated by the defendant from the date of the launch of the promo in April 2014 till the date of its cessation 0or termination by the said order of the court.
The NLA is also seeking an order compelling MTN to pay into court an escrow account the revenue it has generated from the date of launch of the promo until the date of its cessation or termination.
