08-12-2011
Narration: As part of its corporate social responsibility initiative, MTN Ghana Foundation has break grounds for the construction of an ultra modern 25-seater ICT centre for 85 year old St. Charles Primary School at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The facility which is expected to be completed within the second quatre of next year is estimated to cost GH¢148,640 and would serve about 8 communities within the catchment area. The project among interventions demonstrates the foundation’s commitment to establishing 10 ICT centres in all the 10 regions of Ghana. This is to complement government’s efforts at bridging the digital gap between pupils in the deprived and urban communities as well as supporting the implementation of the mandatory ICT component of the new educational reform. Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana.
CUE IN
END CUE
ANCR V/O
Report
At a sod cutting ceremony to commission the centre, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN Foundation, Mrs Cynthia Lumor, said her outfit is dedicated to the socio-economic development of the country by improving the quality of live through appropriate and sustainable social interventions in communities where it operates. MTN Ghana Foundation she noted has made an exceptional impact in many communities through their corporate social responsibilities and had since its establishment in 2007 transformed and touched the lives of vulnerable people especially in deprived areas of the country. Mrs Lumor said MTN foundation is now focusing on economic empowerment with an objective of providing training to the less privileged in society, though the foundation already operates in two focus areas, which are health and education. The commissioning of the ICT centre she indicated is geared at improving the knowledge base of beneficiaries especially students and also forms part of the foundation’s idea of giving back to the community. She however challenged the contractor to make use of the financial investment and ensure that the facility is completed as schedule. Mrs Lumor took the opportunity to commend the past and present administration of St Charles Primary School for achieving 85 years in existence and urged the management of the school to strive in providing the best quality of education to the children with much focus on ICT education. She also thanked all valued customers of MTN for helping the company to reach its 10 million milestones and hoped that with their partnership, MTN would continue to maintain its position as the leading telecommunication company in Ghana and beyond. She said MTN Ghana Foundation has brought dramatic improvement in the telecommunication industry, stating that the foundation is committed to sharing 1 percent of its revenue to advancing the cause of vulnerable people, hence the need for strong partnership and cooperation by clients. The Headmistress of St. Charles Primary school, Mrs. Babiana Waye on behalf of staff and management expressed gratitude to MTN Foundation Ghana for the gesture and appealed to the PTA as well as old students of the school to emulate and assist their alma mater. The commissioning of the ICT facility, she said will equip pupils with skills in ICT as they climb the academic ladder. She however called for more of such support to help boost academic performance especially in the area of ICT education. The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Agnes Atagabe and the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni were there to grace the occasion. MTN Foundation Ghana later in the day organized a forum for editors of both print and electronic media in the region to update them on their operations, challenges and achievements chalked so far. Mrs. Lumor in a presentation said MTN Foundation is working round the clock to improve internet accessibility among Ghanaians via mobile phones and other gadgets. She mentioned fibre cuts, scams, arbitrary business operating fees, especially from MMDAs and power fluctuations among others as some of the key elements militating against their operations. Mrs Lumor used the occasion to appeal to road contractors to exercise caution when embarking on road projects to prevent any fibre cut, which she indicated disrupts effective service delivery when it occurs.
End
No comments:
Post a Comment