September 2024

A total of GHC206.5 million as part of MTN’s Social Impact Project has been invested either directly or indirectly impacting over million lives in the country.

According to records made available to 3news from the commercial sector of MTN Southeast Region, a huge figure of 166 social projects have been executed and completed across the country. These projects are in the area of health care, economic empowerment and community support initiative.

The Commercial Head for MTN South-East Region, Peter Bimpeh at their annual media and stakeholder engagement in Ho, disclosed that projects instituted by MTN is across all sectors, particularly on economic empowerment, health and education which center on ICT.

Mr. Bimpeh stressed that in view of this MTN Ghana Foundation is able to reach out to a total of 51 rural communities as they provide thousands of the youth with job opportunities and career guidance in the digital space.

The Commercial Head said MTN seeks to be leader in the digital space for the progress of not only Ghana but the African continent at large, saying in this regard his outfit would not relent in its efforts to work hard to maintain their brand in the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SME) sector.

As part of MTN’s Social Corporate Responsibility, Mr. Bimpeh revealed that 75 percent of its resources would be put in ICT and its related programmes to buttress their commitment to digitization drive.

He announced that the Board of Directors of MTN have agreed as part of the company’s digitalization agenda to support any decision arrived at to invest in ICT related project in any community of their choice to demonstrate MTN’s commitment in the digital space.

MTN, Mr. Bimpeh stressed, has invested much on network infrastructure with more than 5,000 cell sites across the country of which thousands underwent upgrade.

As part of the annual media and stakeholder engagement, MTN organized a community engagement event at Sokode, a suburb of Ho to educate customers and prospective clients on how to protect themselves from fraudsters.

The Area Sales Manager for Eastern, Oti and Volta regions, Ransford Gyan noted that the key focus of the event is to educate the public on fraud, particularly on mobile money scams as they shared tips on how to avoid being a victim of such circumstances.

Mr. Gyan took them through what they called three golden rules to safeguard against mobile money fraud. These include,’do not share your PIN number with any person, avoid engaging with strangers when dealing with mobile money transactions and do not send others to conduct mobile money transactions on your behalf.’

Source: 3news

Chief Executive Officer-Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Kenneth Ashigbey, has called on members of the Mobile Money Advocacy Group (MoMAG) to prioritise professionalism and customer service as the sector continues to evolve and expand.

The call to action came during the group’s 7^th anniversary, held in Accra under the theme ‘Celebrating Progress: Reflecting on Milestones and Charting the Future’, where key stakeholders and members across the nation gathered to celebrate success chalked up over the years and discuss the rapidly growing mobile money landscape’s future in the country.

Recognising the significant progress in driving financial inclusion and creating a robust mobile money infrastructure, Mr. Ashigbey highlighted several areas where mobile money agents can further strengthen the sector.

“Some of the critical issues for mobile money agents include overcharging customers, withholding cash, delaying transactions and poor record-keeping,” he said, urging agents to address these challenges.

The issue of overcharging customers was particularly concerning, with him noting that some agents charge customers higher fees than the official transaction rates. Similarly, he addressed the problem of agents withholding cash – forcing customers to return later or access their funds through alternative means.

The importance of proper record-keeping was also emphasised, as the speaker noted that poor record-keeping can lead to transaction errors and disputes between agents and customers, ultimately damaging trust in the system.

“Poor record-keeping leads to transaction errors and disputes between agents and customers, damaging trust,” he said.

The speaker acknowledged that while the industry as a whole has made significant strides, there is still room for improvement when it comes to the way mobile money agents interact with their customers.

During the event, President of MoMAG Edward Ofori Agyemang expressed gratitude to members for their dedication and hard work, which have contributed to the group’s progress. The president recounted several accomplishments, including negotiating an increase in agent cashing commission, donating hospital equipment and renovating facilities, and providing support to local schools.

However, the president also voiced deep concern over the recent trend of agents being robbed – which has led to significant financial losses and posed a threat to the well-being of members. Specific incidents were mentioned, such as a member losing Gh₵83,000 cedis and another losing GH₵55,000 through robbery.

The president also encouraged all members to purchase insurance products to help safeguard their business as the Group begins conversations on rolling out a voluntary insurance policy.

The celebration marked a significant milestone in the Uber Money Advocacy Group Ghana’s journey, as it looks to the future with renewed determination and a commitment to the well-being of its members.

Mr. Agyemang reiterated the call for mobile money agents to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and customer service, saying it has become a critical priority. By addressing these issues, the industry can further strengthen its customers’s trust and loyalty – paving the way for a more inclusive and transformative digital economy, he added.

Source: thebftonline.

The European Commission (EC) will spell out ways Apple must open up its ecosystem to align with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), focusing on the company’s iOS functionality and interoperability with third-parties.

In a statement, the regulator explained it had held talks with Apple concerning compliance with its laws, and if it puts proposed measures are put in place, it could help the iPhone-maker avoid a hefty fine.

EC’s so-called “specification proceedings” proposal follows preliminary findings published in June, which investigated the ways Apple has breached the DMA through its App Store policies.

The regulator intends to “specify how Apple will provide effective interoperability with functionalities such as notifications, device pairing and connectivity” as part of the first phase of the process, which targets iOS use across connected devices.

For the second phase, the EC will monitor the processes Apple has set up to address interoperability requests submitted by third-party developers.

EC aims to wrap up the proceedings in six months.

Margrethe Vestager, EVP for competition policy at EC said: “Today is the first time we use specification proceedings under the DMA to guide Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue. We are focused on ensuring fair and open digital markets. Effective interoperability, for example with smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this.”

Vestager added the process “will provide clarity for developers, third parties and Apple”.

Recently, Apple announced further updates to its App Store in the European Union (EU) and started allowing third-party marketplaces on its iPad ecosystem, as part of attempts to dodge EC fines.

Source: mobileworldlive

Integrating digital tools into education contributes to long-term economic development. It ensures that the youth – who make up a significant portion of the African population – are well-equipped for the demands of the 21st-century economy.

The government of Ghana launched on September 17 the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank portal, a platform providing free access to educational materials and tutoring services. The GKSB aims to improve learning for students from basic to tertiary levels, as part of Ghana’s digitalization efforts to ensure equitable access to quality education.

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, hailed the GKSB as a milestone in Ghana’s digital transformation, saying “This portal contains valuable information in line with the approved curriculum for Ghanaian students. It also grants access to over 5 millions online library archives, learning resources and tools.”

As part of the $200 million World Bank-backed Ghana Digital Acceleration Project, the GKSB seeks to expand digital infrastructure and educational access nationwide, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for inclusive education.

Developed by Npontu Technologies, the GKSB is designed to work offline, allowing students in remote areas to download materials without needing constant internet access. It will include educational materials from reputable sources like Cambridge University Press, Cengage Learning, and others. With this launch, Ghana becomes the 2^nd African country after Egypt, to implement a national digital education system, reinforcing its leadership in digital innovation across the continent.

As of 2024, about 30.2% of Ghanaians (approximately 10.39 million people) remained offline, with rural communities being the most affected by this digital divide, according to DataReportal. Without consistent internet access, many rural students may struggle to engage with online learning opportunities, limiting their benefits from digital education initiatives. This underscores the urgency of expanding digital infrastructure in these areas, as part of projects like the GKSB, which aims to bridge the digital divide and enhance access to educational and economic opportunities across the country.​

This initiative is expected to play a critical role in elevating educational standards in Ghana, aligning with international digital learning platforms, and contributing to the nation’s growing tech innovation capacity.

Source: wearetech.africa

Out of over 1,500 students who applied, only 200 were selected after a rigorous interview process involving 400 shortlisted candidates

MTN Ghana Foundation awarded scholarships to 200 students across the country as part of its MTN Bright Scholarship Reloaded initiative, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 10 which focus on quality education and reduced inequalities.

The event, held on Friday (20 September) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was attended by key stakeholders, including awardees, their parents and guardians, and representatives of various universities among others.

Judges

One of the panellists Dr. Godwin Osabutey shared insights into the selection process, explaining the fairness and inclusivity that guided the award of the scholarships.

He highlighted that out of over 1,500 students who applied, only 200 were selected after a rigorous interview process involving 400 shortlisted candidates.

“We ensured that all 16 regions of Ghana were represented, and we made sure universities from across the country were fairly represented. Additionally, we focused on various disciplines including ICT, Engineering, Computer Science, and Humanities,” Dr. Osabutey explained.

He further emphasized the importance of diversity, saying, “We ensured a fair representation of gender and students who are differently abled among the selected awardees.”

MTN Foundation

Mr. Robert Kuzo, Head of the MTN Ghana Foundation expressed the organisation’s commitment to bridging the gap in access to education, noting the role education plays in poverty reduction and national development.

“We are thrilled to award scholarships to 200 students who aspire to change their fortunes through higher education. Education breaks barriers, promotes innovation, and enables individuals to contribute to society,” he stated.

Launched in 2018, MTN Bright Scholarship has since supported over 520 students by covering tuition, accommodation, stipends, and laptops to enable them to complete their education.

Kuzo also highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to inclusivity, pointing out that 20 of the 200 students awarded this year are differently-abled, adding that this demonstrates MTN’s commitment to diversity.

“MTN Ghana Foundation continues to invest in education because educating the people in the communities we operate in can bridge the poverty gap and foster innovation,” he said.

Beneficiaries

For Agnes Adabre, a mother from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, the journey to higher education for her daughter, Gival, seemed like an uphill battle. The family faced significant financial challenges When Gival was admitted to the University for Development Studies (UDS) at the Navrongo campus.

“We were just wondering what we were going to do,” Agnes recalled, reflecting on the difficult time when they worried about how they would afford her daughter’s education.

The financial strain threatened to derail Gival’s dream of pursuing a degree.

“[But] thanks to MTN Ghana Foundation, Gival is now studying without any impediment. I want to thank MTN Ghana Foundation for this kind gesture. They have allowed my daughter to focus on her studies and secure a brighter future”, Agnes shared with deep gratitude.

Source: asaaseradio.com

The tool is designed to help telco organizations adopt and measure responsible and ethical approaches to AI as the industry looks to access an estimated $680 billion market opportunity

The GSMA launches the first industry-wide Responsible AI Maturity Roadmap to provide telecoms operators with the tools and guidance to test and assess their responsible use of the technology.

Recognizing that the overall opportunity derived from the expanded use of AI within the telecoms sector is estimated by McKinsey to be as high as $680 billion over the next 15-20 years, the GSMA is uniting the industry in using the technology ethically and responsibly – the first time a whole sector has committed to a common approach to AI.

The roadmap, developed based on insights by McKinsey and a group of operators, will allow telecoms organizations to assess where they currently stand in terms of their existing maturity in using AI responsibly against where they want to go, i.e. their ambitions and needs. It then provides clear guidance and measurement tools to help fulfil those ambitions, while ensuring industry-wide best practice in the responsible use of the technology.

Its development follows the well-established commitments of many mobile network operators (MNOs) to ensure the exploration and integration of AI within their work has been and is done in ethical and responsible ways.

Following extensive industry consultation, the GSMA has taken these approaches and combined them with existing global regulations, recommendations and standards from international organisations including the OECD, and the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI to create a roadmap for the whole industry to align on the use of RAI.

This initiative has been championed by Axiata, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Telstra. Nineteen MNOs have already committed to using the roadmap as a way of tracking, maintaining and improving their responsible use of AI. Full details of all the MNOs already using it are available in the notes to editors.

Best-practice principles

The RAI Maturity Roadmap is underpinned by five core underlying dimensions: the vision, values and strategic goals of an organization; its operating model and how to maintain AI governance across all operations; technical controls aligned with regulatory requirements; collaboration with third-party ecosystems; as well as corporate change management and communication strategies.

For each of these dimensions, the roadmap will guide organisations to take the appropriate steps to use AI responsibly relative to their level of maturity.

It also builds on well-established best-practice principles, including: fairness; human agency and oversight; privacy and security; safety and robustness; transparency; accountability; and environmental impact.

By providing greater clarity and a common approach to the responsible use of AI, the GSMA’s industry roadmap will give MNOs the confidence to commit to its adoption in the knowledge they are doing so in established, agreed and ethical ways, and therefore unlock the technology’s full value more quickly.

Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, said: “The transformative potential of AI has long been apparent but its integration in our work and our lives must be done in a responsible and transparent way for it to be truly effective and sustainable. This roadmap will now empower more MNOs to embrace AI in the knowledge they, in line with the whole sector, are doing so responsibly and ethically.

“Responsible AI is the right way to explore and unlock the many opportunities the technology presents, and the telecoms industry is proud to lead the way as the first sector to commit to this approach – we hope others will follow our example”.

José María Álvarez-Pallete López, GSMA Board Chair and Chairman & CEO of Telefónica, said: “The speed with which AI has now become a central part of tech and telecoms operations demonstrates its power and undoubted value, but also the risks we must consider as an industry and the need to include ethics at the heart of AI to prevent its uncontrolled development. It is crucial for us all to ensure responsible guidelines for the use of AI are implemented now, and it is great to see the telecoms industry leading the way on this with the GSMA’s new roadmap”.

Source: GSMA