Hello. Sorry I was a bit vague. The country is Ghana. Now Ghana is more modern than most sub-Saharan African nations. There are expat business people who have been there for many years, and are very well off. I would think they would have taken this opportunity years ago. Don't you think? Something so lucrative (as this scratch-off lottery is supposed to be) is to be left undone, for years, until two small fish from the US come in and do it? I just can't see it. Now, as I mentioned in my post, one of the principals involved lived in I.C. for many years (let's call him A). He is also close, blood relative of my friend (let's call him B - perhaps this is why my friend thinks he is in good hands). I am thinking no way this guy could be so stupid as to fall for this. I think he is in on the con.

Also, here is a further twist. My friend (B) remained here in US, while his partner (A) was there supposedly taking care of everything. So A starts requesting more money from B. B sends a bit, and then sets out for Ghana. He arrives in Ghana and is there awaiting the launch of the venture. This basically consists of printing and distributing tickets. Deadlines pass and A then informs B that their local partner has been lying and is not qualified for this, so they dismiss him and find a new partner. In the meantime, the old partner revokes B's invitiation to remain in the country, and B is then arrested and jailed for 3 days until he is released under the condition that he leave the country that day. A remains there. The launch is supposed to be next month. Sounds like the biggest con to me, but remember these two (A and B) are very closely related and A's family remains in the US, awaiting his return.
The main point I was trying to bring up to my friend is that, if this is such a sure bet, such a lucrative venture, whey the hell hasn't it been done already? I mean you are talking about Ghana here, not Congo or Benin. I know there are a lot of elaborate hustles in Africa, but has anyone ever heard of this one?