News
Opera, MTN Ghana extend partnership with new ‘free browsing’ programme
Norwegian browser developer Opera and leading telecommunication operator, MTN, have announced extension of their partnership in Ghana.
To celebrate the extended partnership, both organisations have re-launched a new Free Browsing programme that provides MTN customers in Ghana up to 1.5 GB of free monthly data when they browse with the popular Opera Mini browser.
“We are glad to extend our partnership with MTN in Ghana and look forward to bringing more people online in 2021”,
Jørgen Arnesen, EVP of Mobile Browsers at Opera, said “access to the web should be a universal right,” hence their decision to work with MTN in Ghana “under the shared vision of bringing more people online by offering affordable access to the web through the Opera Mini browser.”.
MTN Ghana, in a statement, said customers who have Opera Mini installed on their mobile devices will be able to “start browsing for free.”
“With free browsing, MTN customers can make more online purchases, check on the latest news or simply find entertainment content they want or are interested in. As MTN Ghana works to become a Digital Operator, we are conscious of the customer experience we deliver in our digital services,” it stated.
Sam Addo, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of MTN Ghana said the company, together with Opera, would provide customers access to more online content so they remain engaged with their devices “without worrying too much about data expenses.”
“We are excited about this partnership with Opera and we look forward to more offers to delight our customers”, he added.
Opera Mini is a small, fast and powerful browser. It comes with unique features such as Data Compression, Offline File Sharing and built-in Ad-blocker.
Opera Mini enables access to free eBooks through the Worldreader speed dial and the music catalogue of the Kenyan music-streaming service-‘Mdundo’, allowing users to stream or download music through the Opera Mini browser.
It has over the years become the browser of choice for over a 100 million people around the world who choose it over pre-installed browsers on Android mobile devices.
MTN said customers who were not yet Opera Mini users, could download the application for free on Google Play Store.
“The free browsing package is capped to 50MB per day and it covers browsing only. Video streaming and file download will attract normal data charges,” the statement added.
By Spectator Reporter
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
