Industry News

The Leading Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) has made history becoming the largest primary share offer in Ghana Stock Exchange.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Mr. Selorm Adadevoh in his speech during the Eastern Customer Soiree held in Koforidua on September 7, 2018 revealed that their firm has become the largest primary share offer in Ghana stock exchange.

Delivering his speech, he commended people who have bought their shares and welcomed individuals who are now part of the 128,000 people who own a part of MTN.

He indicated that, the ideology of having time with customers is to have a good relationship with them but not at a transactional level. The regular points of interface which are usually for enquiries, report issues, giving feedback are all good and for that matter, getting more personal and engaging and results of the interaction are rewarding.

Commenting on the future of the firm, he said “We have enjoyed a good working relationship with you and we look to a brighter future with you all either as Customers or shareholders or both. If you missed the opportunity to buy shares during the initial offer but are still interested may buy from a licensed stock broker he averred.

Mr. Adadevoh then assured customers of listening to their views as they are open for suggestions and being transparent in their dealings.

He therefore promised on behalf of the company continue providing innovative products and services driven on the 4GLTE mobile network.

Source:Ghanaweb

Vodafone Ghana has embarked on a move to entrench its reputation as the digital telco of the future by empowering SMEs in the month of September this year.

According to Angela Mensah-Poku, Director at Vodafone Business Solutions (VBS), who made this known, a number of initiatives had already been lined up, including SME Clinics across the regions, a master plan to register 1,000 SMEs online, as well as a Masterclass programme, in partnership with CEIBS to build the capacity of these businesses.

The SME Masterclass programme will also train senior managers of selected SMEs on key modules, including corporate governance, innovation and entrepreneurship growth, financial management and social media.

“We are excited about the comprehensive activities we have put together for our customers. Our support for SMEs in Ghana over the years has seen tremendous results; first for our customers and then for us as a business. This year will be no different as we continue to empower SMEs to embrace the exciting future. We know how critical mobile financial services are to SMEs. For most companies, it’s an integral part of their operations. In view of this, we have also created a unique Vodafone Cash offer to enable SMEs conduct unlimited transactions on the platform at GH¢3 per month throughout the month of September,” she said.

She revealed that SMEs played a very crucial role in Ghana’s economy, demonstrating the capacity to contribute enormously to the general economic growth, hence the decision to assist them.

“With the world at an advanced stage of digitisation, Vodafone wants to be at the forefront of the drive to make these businesses relevant and competitive.”

The highlight of the SME month will be the Annual SMEGA Awards during which thriving companies in the country would be rewarded and acknowledged for a good job done.

 

Source: dailyguideafrica.com

For the first time in many years, music lovers will witness “Mr Music Man” Kojo Antwi and lover man Charles Kwadwo Fosu aka Daddy Lumba performing on the same stage in Ghana at this year’s Vodafone African Legends Night on 29th September 2018 at the plush Kempinski Hotel in Accra.
The two music Legends will be joined by Africa’s Dancehall King Samini and traditional music group Wulomei, all in the name of bringing the legends home to thrill audience to some of their hit songs.
With an exciting and successful musical career spanning over two decades, Kojo Antwi has established himself as a consummate vocalist; a prolific songwriter, producer and arranger; and an enigmatic performer. He has delighted lovers of good music such as Mmrika, Adienpena, Tom and Jerry, Adinkra etc with his clear and flawlessly seductive voice that radiates through his massive repertoire of smooth and sultry ballads.

Daddy Lumba, who is making a return to the show, will definitely make the audience call for more of his countless tunes. He is known for his “borga highlife” songs which became very popular among Ghanaians in Europe especially those in Germany. He has been consistent with the release of multiple-hit albums since then and has established himself as one of Ghana’s most popular singers of his genre, Highlife.

In the history of the African Legends Night, Samini will be the first Reggae and Dancehall artiste to perform on stage. The multiple award-winning “Linda” hit icon will drop some of his great tunes such as Odo, Samini Music, Linda, Gyae shee, My Own and more that will keep the audience on their feet.

According to Global Media Alliance, organizers of the event, the superstars were lined-up together due to their immense contribution to the Ghanaian music industry hence the decision to create a platform to have close interactions with their fans.

The 7th edition of Vodafone African Legends Night will take place on Saturday, September 29th at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra. The show starts at 7pm prompt and is expected to attract hundreds of music lovers.

Last year, the show witnessed great performances from Kanda Bongo Man of DR Congo, Amakye Dede, Daddy Lumba, Aka Blay, eShun and Nana Yaa.

African Legends Night is sponsored by Vodafone, Alomo Bitters, Eden Heights, Alisa Hotel, Phoenix Insurance, Sun Seekers Tours, Global Cinemas and Silverbird Cinemas with media support from YFM, Happy FM, Citi FM, Starr FM, ETV, GHOne, Ghanaweb, Archbert Premier Media, Daily Guide, B&FT and Graphic Showbiz.

 

Source: graphic.com.gh

Ghana’s second-largest telecommunications network, AirtelTigo has made great strides in the upgrade and consolidation of its network assets between former Airtel and Tigo. It has recently completed this consolidation in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions to become one big network.

Over the past six months, AirtelTigo has invested significantly in its network upgrade and consolidation, which will offer an enhanced customer experience nationwide. The company has increased its 3G population coverage across the five stated regions and will continue enhancing the network experience in coming months.

The next phase of upgrade will cover the Eastern, Volta, Western and Central Regions which will be completed in September. Greater Accra region will follow soon after that. This is all part of AirtelTigo’s plan to fulfill its commitment to deliver a bigger, better and stronger network to its customers.

Commenting on the ongoing network upgrade nationwide, the Chief Executive Officer of AirtelTigo, Mrs Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi, said “The AirtelTigo merger, which is the first of its kind in Ghana represents a value-creating and groundbreaking move in the country’s telecommunications industry. We will ensure that Ghanaians experience the full benefits of this merger in an efficient and expeditious manner.”

She added “We acknowledge and appreciate the patience of all AirtelTigo customers whose communication may have been disturbed in these areas of network upgrade.” She reassured that the network upgrade in these areas is now complete with further improvements planned in the coming months. “We are here to serve you and encourage any customer who is experiencing any challenge to contact our Customer Service by calling 100, 0277551000 or 0260000100. Alternatively, our customers can also visit us at any AirtelTigo Shop” she said.

 

Source: AirtelTigo

A delegation from AirtelTigo, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Mitwa Ng’ambi, has paid a courtesy call on His Royal Majesty (HRM) Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

Mrs Mitwa Ng’ambi used the occasion to share information on the milestones so far achieved on the merger between Airtel and Tigo since the announcement last year.

She indicated that there was an on-going network upgrade nationwide to ensure that AirtelTigo’s customers enjoy a superior network experience.

She said the company remains committed to meeting the needs of customers and assured the Otumfuo and all valued stakeholders in the Ashanti region of an enhanced customer experience.

“AirtelTigo has a long history in Ghana and is indeed proud of its heritage. We remain committed to pursuing the network upgrade and consolidation to offer fast internet speed, generous data packages and superior voice quality and also deliver a bigger, better and stronger network to our customers,” she said.

Mrs Ng’ambi expressed appreciation to the Asantehene and his Council for their relentless support to the former brands over the years.

In his remarks, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II welcomed the new CEO and thanked the company for its contributions to the socio-economic development in the region. He prayed for a successful merger and reaffirmed his support for the work of the company in serving the needs of the people in his region.

The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister Mr. Simon Osei Mensah and the Regional Coordinating Council. The regional Minister was excited about the merger and the opportunity it provides for the growth of businesses.

The visits form part of the AirtelTigo’s leadership team nationwide engagements with staff, distributors and value chain of the company’s business operations in the country.

 

Source: AirtelTigo

MTN Ghana has raised Gh₵1,146,589,464.75 of the expected Gh₵3,478,045,900, at the end of the Initial Public Offer (IPO) representing 32.97% of the total Offer amount.

The Offer which ran from 29th May, 2018 to 31st July, 2018 consisted of a public offer of up to 4,637,394,533 ordinary shares of MTN Ghana valued at Gh₵3,478,045,900 at an Offer Price of GHS 0.75 per share (the “Offer Shares”), representing up to 35% of the issued shares of MTN Ghana after the offer.

Even though the figure has fallen short of about 67percent of the target, MTN says with investor demand exceeding the minimum (GHS 347,804,590) required to be raised for the Offer, it can be declared successful.

Speaking at a news briefing in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh said of the 128,152 applicants, 127,826 were Ghanaians; and of the Gh₵1,146,589,464.75 raised under the Offer, Gh₵443,631,446.25, representing 38.69%, was raised from Ghanaians.

He indicated that 499 institutional applicants who bought 1,367,386,080 shares amounting to Gh₵1,025,539,560 represented 89.44percent.

Mr. Adadevoh added that the remaining 127,653 retail applicants who bought a total of 163,088,280 shares amounting Gh₵121,049,904.75 represented 10.56percent.

According to him, 108,434 applicants subscribed through the MTN Mobile Money portal representing 84.6% of the number of applicants.

He noted that the first day of trading of the MTN Ghana shares is expected to be launched on next month September 5.

The CEO emphasized that shareholders will then be able to monitor and trade their MTN Ghana shares by contacting a licensed dealing member of the Ghana Stock Exchange.

Mr. Adadevoh stated that successful applicants will be allotted all the shares they applied for. Applicants with Central Securities Depository (CSD) accounts will have their CSD accounts credited with their allotment by 4th September, 2018 by 5:00pm.

He added that IC Securities will create CSD accounts for successful applicants who did not provide details of their CSD accounts as part of their application, and their respective allotments will be credited to the respective CSD account created for them.

“A number of applicants who applied for shares have received notifications to update their identification documentation (“IDs”). Applicants who have received such notifications should visit any MTN Ghana Service Centre with updated IDs as a matter of urgency,” he posited.

Mr. Adadevoh said as a result of KYC considerations these applicants are required to update their IDs in order to be able to trade their shares from the first day of trading.

“Per the Offer prospectus, an appropriate ID is a valid national passport; a driver’s license; a national ID; a national health insurance ID or a voter’s ID. Until applicants have updated their information and ID cards, their shares will be held in a nominee account ah he CSD. After the applicants have updated their IDs, their shares will be transferred from the nominee account to their account,” he intimated.

According to him, by raising GHS 1,146,589,464.75 from 128,152 applicants, the Offer makes history as the largest primary share offer in the history of the Ghana Stock.

“This is the largest Offer ever in the history of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). It has doubled the size of all the IPOs put together in the history of GSE,” he posited.

Mr. Selorm Adadevoh indicated that the Offer which ran from 29th May, 2018 to 31st July, 2018 consisted of a public offer of up to 4,637,394,533 ordinary shares of MTN Ghana valued at Gh₵3,478,045,900 at an Offer Price of GHS 0.75 per share (the “Offer Shares”), representing up to 35% of the issued shares of MTN Ghana after the offer.

 

Source: www.modernghana.com

Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, the Minister of Communication has reiterated government’s resolve to extend mobile telephone services to all rural communities across the Country.
She said Ghanaians living in remote communities also deserved to be part of the digitized global community, and that, extending telecommunications infrastructure to those areas was therefore necessary.
Mrs. Ekuful made the observation at Amantia in the Asante-Akim South Municipality, as part of her working visit to the Ashanti Region.
The Minister is in the region to inspect project sites of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) under the Rural Telephony Project (RTP).
She would also acquaint herself with the Community Information Centres (CICs) as well as the School Connectivity Projects, in eight districts in the region.
The Asante-Akim South Municipality has four of the RTPs sites at Amantia, Banka, Bankame-Sunkwa and Gyadam with two CICs at Banso and Obogu.
The Communication Minister said the Ministry through GIFEC was extending mobile telephone services to areas of the country where access were not adequately available.
She said there were areas where licensed operators were unwilling or unable to expand their networks to due to its low commercial viability, adding that, it was the responsibility of government to fill such gaps.
The objective of the RTP, she noted, was to achieve 100 per cent mobile telephone service coverage throughout the country and to increase telephone subscribership to as many citizens as possible.
She said the provision of computers under the School Connectivity Project would facilitate Information Communication Technology (ICT) studies, which was critical to quality education.
Hopeful that the project would help raise standard of education in the area, she urged beneficiary schools to arrange with schools in surrounding communities to also use the facility as a means of reaching out to more pupils.
Mr. Abraham Kofi Asante, the Administrator of GIFEC, said a total of 100 RTP sites had been completed across the country with 29 located in the Ashanti Region.
He said the second phase would see the construction of 200 sites, out of which 30 would be in the Ashanti Region.
Osabarima Tweampomah III, Chief of Banka, commended government for the project, which he said, was a laudable intervention that had addressed many years of communication challenges.

Source: GNA

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT), Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey has called on the government to include coding as a subject in the school curricula.
According to him, coding, which is the language of technology has become the order of the new digital age; hence the need for the people to know about it at an early stage in life.
Mr. Ashigbey made the call in an interview after the launch of the Vodafone National Coding Programme in Accra last Friday.
The programme is to provide hands-on training for 10,000 young people in coding across the country.
Mr. Ashigbey said companies and individuals who did not have the basic understanding of the language for the future-coding—risked losing their jobs to artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of things (IoT) and robotics.
He added that it was not enough to be able to read and write, just as the various curricula in the primary schools have been providing. Instead, there was the need to equip young people with the basic knowledge in coding which would enable the country to have young brains that would be able to build and develop applications that were relevant in solving social problems.
“Being able to read and write is no more enough. You need to be able to code; no matter the roles you play, you would need the ability to know some level of coding to be able to say viable,” he said.
He therefore called the young people to register with the Vodafone coding programme and equip themselves to be able to stay relevant in what he described as “a very complex yet transformative digital world”.
Transformational Agenda
Earlier during the launch, a Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr. Vincent Sowah Odotei, said in a bid to place the country on a digital roadmap, the government, through the ministry, had partnered the World Bank Group to build an impact hub at the Accra Digital Centre (ADC).
He added that the ministry had also built other Enhanced Community Information Centres (ECICs) in deprived communities across the country. The centres, he said, were aimed at sending technology closer to the people, especially those who had been left out in digital experiences.
Mr. Odotei indicated that aside from equipping young people with skills in technology, the centres also provided capacity building for people with practical training on how to use the new technologies that were coming up.
“The ECICs are also aimed at creating a converging point for those in the community to go there and try their hands on electronic gadgets to feel the exciting digital experience, in addition to the children being taught how to code,” he said.
He stated that the ministry was building ICT centres in the various second cycle institutions in a bid to promote the digital transformation programme.
The programme
The Vodafone National Coding Programme is a nationwide digital programme which seeks to train young people in coding languages to prepare them for the future. The programme is also aimed at preparing people to be able to participate in building applications, websites and other social enhanced technological devices and add on to the growth of the economy.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone Ghana, Ms Yolanda Cuba, said: “if we have young people who do not have interest in coding, which is a basic language in order to partake in the new technology world, we will fall short in igniting Ghana’s digital revolution.”
She therefore called for dialogue to discuss the pragmatic ways to ensure that the country had an efficient narrative of being the digital hub of West Africa.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Accra, 24 August 2018 – Government has endorsed a National Coding Programme recently launched by Vodafone Ghana to benefit 10,000 Ghanaian youth in the next five years.

The telecommunications company on Friday August 24th, announced that the coding programme is part of a unique strategy to ignite Ghana’s digital revolution.
Globally, digital coders are reshaping the world – disrupting and demystifying previously existing myths in technology and innovation. It has become an empowerment tool; changing the way businesses operate. Vodafone, through the Foundation, is bringing this closer to the Ghanaian youth in every corner of the country in order to equip them to be competitive in the changing global world of technology.

Deputy Communications Minister, Honourable Vincent Sowah-Odotei, speaking at the launch of the programme, said:

“When we can transform the lives of the Ghanaian youth through coding; our future world of technology as a country is in safe hands. It is fulfilling that our youth can get this opportunity to become change makers with coding. Inasmuch as it is comforting for us that Vodafone is taking the lead in this, we want to also pledge that we are committed to ensuring that they will be given flexible room to operate efficiently; imbibing the latest technology and innovation to succeed whilst bringing immense benefits to our youth.”

Yolanda Cuba, Chief Executive of Vodafone Ghana said:

“We are confident that this initiative will start a revolution that will elevate Ghana from our current normal technological status to a force to be reckoned with in the future. There’s so much coders can do to change the world and today, right here, we are developing the next generation of world changers inspired by Vodafone.”

The programme, which uses Vodafone’s employees as trainers, is targeted at Ghanaian youth aged between 14 and 18 years who have a passion for technological innovation and will typically last for five days in each region.
The Central Region is the next stop for the initiative; beginning on Monday August 27th to 31st at Adisadel College. A total of 50 youth are expected to take part. Interested participants should call 0503635266 or email foundation.gh@vodafone.com

Source: vodafone.com.gh.

This story from Uganda holds great lessons for Ghana that I believe culling it from the Monitor of Uganda and relating it to the progress we have made in Ghana is very important
Over the last 18months, there has been a consistent attempt by many Governments within Sub Saharan Africa to tax mobile money and other ICT related programs and services.

Well some governments have put their tax thirst into action by the introduction of excise taxes as we have seen imposed in Kenya, Tanzania and the most recent one is Uganda. President Museveni signed into law on June 21st 2018, the Excise Duty Amendement Act 2018, which brought in the place the mobile money tax and an determined extension to social media, also called Over the Top (OTT) tax.

The law passed by the Ugandan parliament, imposed a 1 per cent tax on mobile-money transactions, including depositing, sending, receiving and withdrawal, as well as a daily Ush200 ($0.05) over-the-top tax on social media services.

After pressure from consumers, Kampala dropped three of the four levies it had imposed on mobile money transactions, and now maintains only a 0.5 per cent charge on cash withdrawals.
Impact of Mobile Money
Mobile money contributes to financial inclusion and East Africa is one of the largest mobile money markets, accounting for 56.4 per cent of total users in Sub-Saharan Africa. The service enables more efficient payments for goods and services, reduces the informal economy, creates employment and protects vulnerable segments of society from financial shocks.

The positive externalities of mobile money also drive other sectors, such as agriculture, healthcare and education and many more. In short, there are strong incentives for the Governments to support the growth of mobile money, which is the opposite of what an excise duty is typically designed to achieve. Mobile money has increased financial inclusion, particularly amongst the marginalized segments of society.

The Excise Tax (Taxation)

Excise taxes, such as those imposed in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, are typically used to address negative externalities. They are, for example, imposed on tobacco sales to discourage people from smoking and by driving businesses to raise the price of cigarettes. As the mobile sector is associated with overwhelmingly positive externalities, the same rationale cannot and should not apply.
In Tanzania, for example, 46% of mobile money users are below the poverty line. The negative impact of taxing mobile money transactions is likely to fall most heavily on these individuals.

Tax Impact for Uganda

Officials from the Bank of Uganda, this week have called the tax discriminative following their engagement with the Finance Committee on Parliament to update legislators on the performance of the mobile money tax.

The officials explained that the mobile money tax, within the first two weeks of implementation has recorded a decline in mobile money transactions with an associated value loss of $182million.

Director of statistics at the Bank of Uganda, Mr. Charles Abuka explained that comparing June against July performance speaks to the loss impact they have recorded in monetary terms. He further proposed that the tax policy, in general, be reviewed by making it broad-based to encourage sectors that are growth points like mobile money.

“It is not always the case that high taxes helps to generate revenue; it might be the case that when you lower them, you get more advantages that can have positive impacts on government revenue,” Mr Abuka said.

Mobile Network operators and mobile money agents have kicked against the policy since March 2018, citing that the tax will make their business extinct. The CEO of MTN Uganda, Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte has said “the MTN business dropped by 30% following the tax introduction on Mobile Money. Our estimations are that if the existing tax regime remains unchanged, we will continue going down further maybe even 35 per cent or even 40 per cent by the end of the year.”

MTN Uganda has said mobile money agents who number about 150,000 in the country are getting 40% less of what they used to earn, and that they now have to pay a 10% withholding tax, which was not the case before.

Financial experts have said, taxing the movement of money discourages trade and commerce, it discourages the formalization of the economy and it interferes with financial intermediation.

Francis Kamulegeya, a UK trained Chartered Tax Adviser and Certified Public Accountant, has said that the Mobile Money tax undermines the progress and successes made in the country in respect of financial inclusion. It hurts the poorest most, and this is already evident on the basis of the impact the tax has had in just five days. It will result in massive loss of employment, both direct and indirect employment in the mobile money sector, it will discourage people from using mobile money services and it will increase the cost of doing business in Uganda

Conclusion

Lessons from Uganda clearly show consumers have lost trust in the mobile money system and are reverting to banks, or heavy use of cash transactions, which once again deepens the informal economy while discounting gains to enhance financial inclusion.

Mobile Money in many markets in Africa is at a nascent stage despite huge volumes and values recorded by Central Banks. Taxing any of these markets undermines the investment case at a time when mobile operators are already under significant cost pressure to expand networks, improve service quality, and address new regulatory requirements.

Governments will have to explore broad-based alternatives to mobile money taxation as it rather stands to deliver better results. For us in Ghana, this holds great of lessons for us. This is why Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has always advocated caution, that as a people we need to be extremely careful and strategic when it comes to imposing new taxes on these digital services! It validates our school of thought that we should not focus on front-loading taxation but rather on encouraging the use of Mobile Financial Services to engender production and in the long term to grow revenues. It is good that the Ghanaian Government has resisted the temptation to impose taxation on mobile money, OTT or other data services.

I pray that we never end up here where Uganda, Shs672 billion in two weeks, and sacrifice all the hard work that the industry and its regulator Bank of Ghana have built, including Ghana moving to the joint third position with Tanzania who were previously way ahead of Ghana, (World Bank Findex report). If Uganda does not take steps to correct this taxation anomaly Ghana will overtake them in the near future.

It is important that we point to those fixated on taxation of MoMo and other Digital Services to see the Telecom sector rather as a Cash Horse pulling the cart of the economy up the steep hill of development that needs caring for and grooming to unleash its maximum sustainable potential, than a Cash Cow that has to be unsustainably milked to death.
Source: Article written by Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications
http://telecomschamber.com/