MTN Ghana has begun investing over $1 billion in network infrastructure upgrades over the next five years in order to provide quality service.
The investment also forms part of the company’s new Ambition 2025 strategy, which aims to convert the network from a traditional telecom (telco) player to a platform or technology (techco) provider with expanded digital offerings.
Under this ambitious plan, the business intends to establish many major platforms, including financial technology (Fintech) solutions, MTN’s digital/Ayoba platform, enterprise solutions, network as a service, and an API marketplace.
It will propel the telco to become a robust techco capable of accelerating technology use, influencing enterprises, and supporting the economy.
New focus
MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Selorm Adadevoh, said this during the first MTN Media Awards in Accra last Friday, when two reporters from the Graphic Communications Group Ltd received awards.
Ama Amankwa Baafi of the Graphic Business was named Best Report in the Print Category, while Suleiman Mustapha was named Second Runner-up in the Print Category.
Samuel Dowuona is a telecoms writer for Techgh24. He was named Overall Best Writer after winning the top prize in the Online Category.
The awards were given to mark MTN’s 25th anniversary in the nation. MTN began in the country as Spacefon, then became Spacefon Areeba following an acquisition, until MTN took over the firm after purchasing its Investcom in 2006.
New focus
According to Mr. Adadevoh, the company’s 25th anniversary served as a platform for the corporation to restrategize and introduce a new emphasis termed the Ambition 2025 strategy.
“This has culminated in our new position and brand refresh. MTN is now an emerging platform business from a traditional telco to techco.
“And so, in the journey to techco there will be several new and exciting initiatives to deliver quality and superior services,” he said.
He defined a techco as a technology company that provides a platform for the ecosystem or environment that all units of society may use to achieve their requirements.
“So being a techco means MTN is on a journey to become a platform player that enhances and accelerates the ecosystem and not just a traditional telecoms company.
“This will take investment, strategic restructuring and a lot of things including cultural, mindset and so, we will make a lot of investment.
“In the next five years, we have committed to invest over $1 billion in our infrastructure alone and that includes becoming a platform player,” he said.
Significant gesture
Professor Kwame Karikari, a communications expert and GCGL’s immediate past Board Chairman, said the award was a significant gesture to the country’s media space.
“It is coming at a time that Ghanaians have been grappling with the problem of professionalism in journalism. Every journalistic award, however, is a challenge to journalists.
“There are many awards and some of the best journalists in the country do not participate but whatever it throws a challenge about the standard of journalism in the society,” Prof. Karikari, who is also a member of the Media Foundation for West Africa, said.
He stated that award programs frequently motivate journalists to execute their jobs well while simultaneously reminding them of their societal responsibilities.
“The duty journalists have is to inform society accurately, professionally, fairly and lift public debate to levels that are enlightening, so what MTN is doing with regard to the media award is an important intervention,” he added.
Investigative journalism
Prof. Karikari stated that investigative journalism, which was once a stronghold in the country, has now dwindled.
He added that while there were a significant number of people practicing investigative journalism decades ago, it appeared that the field was besieged now.
“In spite of these there are so many things that need to be exposed to the larger society. There are so many issues that the public needs to know.
“We hope that in future, MTN Ghana will also join other organisations in looking at the area of investigative journalism,” the communications specialist added.
The awards
At the awards ceremony, 22 organizations and people were recognized for their efforts and support to MTN Ghana over the past 25 years.
It was divided into two categories: special and competitive awards.
Out of the total, 10 were special awards presented to the National Media Commission (NMC), the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa; Network of Communication Reporters, Journalists for Business Advocacy, Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), Private Newspapers Publishers Association, an astute media consultant, Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, and Consultant, Nii Marley.
Michael Abayateye of the Ghanaian Times, Rev. Dr Felix Klutsey, and Kofi Ahovi, a freelance journalist, are among the other winners in the competitive category.
The others are Dynamite FM’s Thomas Tetteh, EIB Network’s Rosemond Adjetey, Asaase Radio’s Nana Adjoa Enstuah, GH One TV’s Ms Francisca Arhin, GBC’s Mr Kweku Bolton, and Metro TV’s Mr Phil John Kortey.
The winners received cash, digital gadgets, souvenirs, and citations as awards.
Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, Chairperson of the Award Jury, stated that 76 entries were received from journalists around the country.
“With majority of the entries presented by journalists from Accra, all entries were supposed to speak to the topic – MTN Ghana: 25 years of brightening lives,” he added.
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SOURCE: GRAPHIC ONLINE
