NIC launches committee to spearhead implementation of inclusive insurance in Ghana

The Commissioner of Insurance (ag.), Mr Michael Kofi Andoh has urged a 12-member steering committee to develop the transformative potential of inclusive insurance with the view to reducing poverty and improving livelihoods.

Speaking at the launch and inauguration of the Committee whose task it is to spearhead the implementation of inclusive insurance in Ghana, Mr Andoh urged the committee to prioritize financial inclusion, particularly in under-served communities.

“It is crucial to fight poverty and create the necessary ingredients for financial inclusion. Inclusive insurance can provide access to essential payment services,” Mr Andoh said.

He highlighted the untapped potential within Ghana’s informal sector.

He also stressed the need to expand agricultural insurance and implement parametric insurance solutions to address the country’s vulnerabilities.

The committee, chaired by Mrs. Stella Jonah, Head of Supervision at the NIC, includes representatives from key institutions. Mr Abdul-Rashid Rahman is the Secretary to the Committee.

Other members include Mohammed Hafiz Issahaku, Head of Innovation at NIC, Kyeame Ghansah, Head of Research at NIC; Mrs Patience Arku-Boham, Head of the Pensions and Insurance Unit at the Ministry of Finance; and Nicholas Nyagblornu, Head of the Intersectoral Collaborations Unit at the Ministry of Health.

The team also features Mr Emmanuel Kofi Asare Abrokwa, Manager of Standards and Compliance at the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA); Dr Yaw Opoku Boateng, Director of Quality Assurance at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA); and Dr. Kingsley Kwabahson, CEO of the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA).

Other members are Leona Lillian Abban, Manager of TURACO Inclusive; Mr. Kofi Akoto Okoampah of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ghana (IBAG); and Ernestina Amankra of the Insurance Awareness Coordinators’ Group (IACG).

The committee is further supported by Mrs. Magdalene Afriyie, Registrar of the Ghana Insurance College (GIC); Yaw Boamah Baafi of the National Communications Authority (NCA); and Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications.

Dr Amina Sammo, Coordinator of the Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), described the inauguration as a pivotal moment in advancing inclusivity.

“This marks a significant step in empowering people in inner-city and low-income communities across the country,” Dr. Sammo stated.

She commended the partnership between the NIC and UNDP, which has achieved milestones since the promulgation of the Insurance Act, 2021 (Act 1061).

She encouraged committee members to maintain their momentum and ensure that inclusive insurance in Ghana aligns with international standards.

The steering committee was tasked with developing strategies to extend insurance coverage to underserved populations, particularly in the informal sector.

Members are also expected to promote awareness and adoption of inclusive insurance products, contributing to the broader goal of financial empowerment for all Ghanaians.

With this initiative, the NIC aims to address critical gaps in Ghana’s insurance sector while fostering resilience and economic growth.

Source: Myjoyonline

MTN Foundation delivers crucial technology tools to Eastern Regional Hospital

MTN Ghana

In a move towards enhancing healthcare services in Ghana, the MTN Ghana Foundation has donated 10 laptop computers and two modern interactive boards to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua. This contribution is both timely and significant, as it will elevate the standards of healthcare delivery and improve the learning experience for medical specialists at the referral facility.

At the donation ceremony, Mrs. Mary Amponsah-Kwatiah, Administrator of the Eastern Regional Hospital, expressed her profound gratitude for the gesture and highlighted the deep impact the new equipment would have on patient care and specialist training.

“For over five years, we have successfully transitioned to electronic folders, replacing traditional paper records with a more efficient digital system,” she explained.

She further noted that every staff member, whether nurse or doctor, is now required to use a computer or laptop in their daily tasks. The addition of 10 laptops would not only be beneficial to the workers but would also significantly enhance their capabilities.

“These items will go a long way in improving the quality of healthcare service we provide to our clients,” she added.

The hospital had long transitioned from paper folders to an electronic records system, integrating technology into its workflows. While the donation of the laptops will augment the existing supplies, it still falls short of the hospital’s overall demand for approximately 200 computers or laptops. Nevertheless, the new laptops will provide essential tools for many healthcare workers—from nurses to doctors—enhancing their efficiency and supporting their daily medical practices.

The donation comes at a crucial time, as the hospital was granted accreditation in January 2024 from the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to train fellows in general surgery, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology.

“This donation is instrumental to our specialists and trainees, as they utilize technology for consultations and surgeries, ensuring every vital aspect of patient care is documented electronically,” Mrs. Amponsah-Kwatiah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the ceremony.

She also took the GNA through the hospital, including the mortuary department, to demonstrate how automation initiatives were enhancing healthcare service delivery. She emphasized that all staff members had upgraded their skills to keep pace with evolving technologies. Notably, some mortuary attendants hold master’s degrees, reflecting the hospital’s commitment to professionalism and excellence.

With the introduction of the new interactive boards, doctors can now conduct consultations remotely, effectively eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances to the regional hospital. Additionally, the automation of hospital records has significantly reduced unnecessary delays and improved overall productivity.

Mrs. Amponsah-Kwatiah noted that the transition not only streamlined processes but also discouraged corrupt practices such as bribery, fostering a more transparent and efficient healthcare environment.

She stressed that the groundbreaking supplies would allow specialists at the hospital to interact with patients virtually, providing timely and efficient healthcare solutions. “Our doctors can see patients from afar, making it a modern approach to healthcare,” she said.

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Robert Kuzoe, Senior Manager of the MTN Ghana Foundation, elaborated on the purpose of the donation, stating, “We are dedicated to enhancing teaching and learning within healthcare institutions. This donation reflects our commitment to support the Eastern Regional Hospital as it elevates its role in the medical field.”

He emphasized that the technology tools would enable physicians in training to receive real-time education and feedback, significantly reducing the need for travel to the national capital, Accra, for lectures and supervision.

“With a click of these devices, they can connect with their lecturers, supervisors, and colleagues from any location in Ghana, thus cutting down on travel costs and saving precious time,” he added.

Mr. Kuzoe reaffirmed MTN Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that everyone benefits from modern connectivity, saying, “Our aim is to contribute to society by providing advanced digital equipment to health institutions, helping to enhance the overall quality of healthcare.”

The Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua is not the first beneficiary of such a transformative gift from the MTN Ghana Foundation. The foundation has previously supported several educational and health institutions, including the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Tema General Hospital, and Keta Municipal Hospital. It also provided a GH₵2.2 million 100-seater robotics center at Mamfe Methodist Girls’ SHS and a GH₵5.47 million ultra-modern Accident and Emergency Block to Bawjiase Polyclinic.

Through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, established in 2007, MTN Ghana Foundation focuses on health, education, and economic empowerment, constantly seeking ways to strengthen communities and promote development.

As the Eastern Regional Hospital embraces this new chapter of innovation and technology, both patients and medical practitioners can look forward to a more efficient and accessible healthcare delivery system.

Source: Myjoyonline

Ghana Launches Girls-in-ICT Training for Ashanti Region, Empowering Future Female Tech Leaders

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), in collaboration with the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), has started the first batch of the Girls-in-ICT, Training of Girls (ToG) programme for the Ashanti Region.

This training, running from 28th October to 1st November 2024, aims to equip young girls with essential ICT skills across various centers in 18 districts.

This initiative seeks to inspire young girls to pursue careers in ICT and develop a strong interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The training modules include Scratch, Computer Programming, E-safety, Game Development, Website Development, Animation, and Coding, among others.

The districts participating in the first batch include Offinso North, Offinso South, Ahafo Ano North, Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano South East, Adansi South, Adansi North, Adansi Asokwa, Bosome Freho, Asante Akyem South, Asante Akyem Central, Asante Akyem North, Amansie West, Amansie South, Amansie Central, Adansi Akrofrom, Obuasi East, and Obuasi Municipal.

During the opening session at Jacobu Senior High School, the District Coordinating Officer, Mr. Anthony Brako, welcomed the initiative and commended the Ministry and its partners for extending the programme to benefit the districts.

He congratulated the selected girls and encouraged them to make the most of the five-day programme to unlock new opportunities in ICT.

Mr. Brako indicated that the training provides a valuable platform for girls to acquire digital skills and bridge the gap between technology and social development, thereby fostering economic empowerment.

Source: Aayushya Ranjan( TechAfricaNews)

Telecel Foundation supports STEM education in Central Region

Telecel Ghana Foundation has made an educational investment in the future of young pupils in three communities in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District of Central Region – Ansafona, Patoako and Kwaman.

The philanthropic arm of the telecommunications giant Telecel Ghana donated ten desktop computers and eight cutting-edge coding and robotics kits to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the primary and junior high schools in the beneficiary communities.

Collaborating with local NGO, Enos Promise Foundation and STEM kit manufacturer, Mingo Blox for the initiative, Telecel Ghana Foundation said the gesture forms part of their commitment to support schools in under-served communities with educational resources to bridge the digital divide and inspire the local youth to embrace technology at a younger stage.

Speaking at the community ceremony to hand over the tech equipment to the schools, Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, said: “We believe in the power of technology and education to transform lives and communities.

With these learning equipment, we are equipping young students with the tools they need to thrive in a technology-driven world and bolster their creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities”.

The durbar was graced by the presence of the queen mother, chiefs from the beneficiary communities, the District Director of Education and National President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers among other dignitaries.

Receiving the STEM kits on behalf of the communities, Obaahemaa Nana Sasah II, in her address, thanked Telecel Ghana Foundation for not forgetting the young pupils in her communities and highlighted the potential of technology to transform their lives.

“This donation is a beacon of hope for our youth and shows that no child should be left behind in education, regardless of their socio-economic background. With these tools, they can acquire the STEM skills needed to compete on a global stage and contribute to the development of our communities, if they embrace and explore these devices to the best of their abilities,” she said.

The donated equipment will increase the number of desktops in the schools’ computer labs and help establish STEM clubs for coding and robotics in the communities.

Former Board Chair of Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (GTCL) and chairman for the ceremony, Dr. Kobina Quansah, in his closing remarks, said the computers and STEM kits will plant seeds in the children for a future filled with innovation. “For too long, access to quality education has been unequal; and this initiative changes the narrative by ensuring that students in rural areas have the same tools as their urban counterparts. If other organisations can follow suit, we can create a ripple-effect of change across Ghana and bridge the digital divide.”

The students assembled and controlled some of the robots and displayed artistic and cultural talent on several themes, including technology, truancy and teenage pregnancy during the ceremony.

Source: bft.online