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Girls in ICT project gets GH¢10 million MTN support
MTN Ghana, as part of its 25th Anniversary celebration, has committed GH¢10 million to the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation in support of the Girls in ICT project.
Girls in ICT programme, an international initiative adopted in 2012 by member states of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) aims at exposing young girls to opportunities in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector and prepare them for ICT related professions.
The first part of the funds was presented to Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Digitalisation at a short ceremony in Accra recently.
The funding is to cover the cost of the project over a three-year period and to encourage girls to consider studies and careers in ICT.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Samuel Koranteng, Chief Corporate Service Officer of MTN Ghana, said “everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life” hence the company’s commitment to ensure that “men and women benefit equally from ICT.”
“Gender Empowerment is a key strategic component of MTN’s Corporate Social Investment and over the years we have made significant contributions in this regard and because of that, we do not wait until precocious young girls become seasoned women professionals before taking an interest in them. Our contributions start from the grassroots level,” Mr. Koranteng added.
Mr.William Tetteh, Chief Capital Projects Officer, speaking on behalf of the CEO of MTN Ghana said the company would continue to support government’s development agenda.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, praised MTN Ghana for joining other corporate organisations to support the initiative to empower girls in ICT.
She said the initiative for this year included a bootcamp for girls from rural communities in the Western North Region who were already undergoing programming and coding training, adding that the ministry would consider expanding the programme to reach more girls in other regions.
By Spectator Reporter
The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished statesman and diplomat, has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama. They officially informed him of his passing.
The delegation, representing the Gbeho family, noted that it was culturally and diplomatically important to formally notify the President of the loss before making a public announcement of his death.
Ambassador Gbeho was a towering figure in Ghanaian and international politics. He served in many diplomatic missions, including New York. He was Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, and President (formerly Executive Secretary) of the ECOWAS Commission.
He was widely respected for his role in regional integration and his contributions to global diplomacy at the United Nations.
President Mahama expressed his condolences and shared reflections on Ambassador Gbeho’s contributions to the country, West Africa and the world.
Funeral details will be announced later.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has revoked all firearm permits in Ghana with immediate effect and announced a new registration process for all gun owners.
The minister made the announcement on Tuesday, June 23, at the information service department saying all individuals who currently hold licences to own firearms or sidearms must undergo a fresh registration process.
“From this afternoon, all permits that have been granted to any individual that you are holding a sidearm or firearm is hereby revoked,” Mr Muntaka said.
He explained that the government had identified gaps in the country’s firearm registration system and needed to introduce stricter measures to improve public safety.
“We are opening the window where everyone will have to come forward again to register or re-register the gun because we’ve changed the procedure,” he stated.
According to him, the government decided not to wait until the end of the year to make the changes because lives could still be saved within the next six months.
The Interior Minister said one of the new requirements would be mandatory mental health screening for applicants seeking firearm licences.
“We’ve seen that people with mental health have already gone through and have the sidearm. Now we are introducing mental health. Before we give you the sidearm, we have to be sure that you have the mental stability to hold the firearms,” he said.
Mr Muntaka also announced that applicants would be required to undergo drug tests before being granted licences.
“We’ve also realised that people who are on drugs are also holding their arms and they are legitimate because it’s been registered. Now you have to go through drug tests to be sure that you are not on drugs before you can hold sidearms,” he added.
The minister said the new measures form part of efforts by the government to tighten firearm control and prevent legally registered weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
He urged all firearm owners to cooperate with the new registration process once details of the exercise are announced.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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