ATC Ghana Digital ICT Learning Centre, has been launched at Asuom in the Kwaebibiriem Municipality of the Eastern Region.

Some pupils and members of the Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA) of Asuom Presbyterian Basic School could not hide their joy from touching and using a computer for the first time in their lives.

The Digital Community facility at Asuom will serve both pupils and members of the community.

American Tower Corporation, ATC Ghana’s parent company, is a leading owner and operator of communications sites for the wireless and broadcast industries.

Chief Executive Officer, ATC Ghana Limited, Yahaya Yunusa, speaking at the launch said ATC Ghana was the leading tower company in Ghana, and also the largest with over 3,900 communications sites across the country.

“Through our Digital Communities, which is our flagship digital inclusion programme, we are deploying fully equipped ICT Education Centres throughout Ghana to create digitally empowered communities where users can learn without barriers.”

He noted that Digital Communities were learning centres that used the uninterrupted electrical power and internet connectivity from ATC’s tower sites to provide free ICT learning in the communities they serve.

Mr Yunusa said in conjunction with key partners such as Africa ICT Right and Ghana Code Club, ATC Ghana sought to provide ICT skills and entrepreneurial training to the youth to equip them with the right skill-sets to broaden their career prospects in an increasingly connected and interconnected world, either by increasing their employability or though entrepreneurship.

He said the Digital Communities project was also in line with the Government of Ghana’s vision to digitalise all aspects of the Ghanaian economy under its Digital Ghana Agenda.

He said ATC Ghana was proud to play a role in supporting the Government’s vision of an inclusive digital economy while encouraging the aspirations of the many brilliant young people across the length and breadth of this country.

He said in this regard, ATC Ghana was rolling out Digital Communities at four locations in 2021; namely Asuom in the Eastern, Berekum in the Bono, Bawku in the Upper East and Akontombra Western North Regions.

He said the four new Digital Communities would add up to the six facilities already operating at Jamasi, Savelugu, Tarkwa, Bawdua, Makola and Battor.

“At ATC Ghana, we believe that supporting education by leveraging on technology as part of our sustainability goals is the right thing to do and we take great pride in how our organization demonstrates its commitment to the communities where we operate,” he said.

“We know that the Digital Communities are truly a great way of giving back to our society and thank you all once again for your generous support and contributions toward this launch here in this community.

“We look forward to sharing the numerous success stories that we believe will come out of Asuom in the very near future as a result of the learnings from this Digital Communities initiative.”

An Aide to Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Stallone Nyarko, reiterated efforts by the Government to ensure that no part of the country was left out in the digital agenda.

Kwaebibiriem Municipal Chief Executive, Seth Antwi-Boasiako, urged the School’s Authority to make sure that the ICT Centre was maintained properly.

Letitia Asiedu-Attafuah, Head of Human Resources for ATC Tower Ghana, said the ICT Centre represents their ongoing commitment as a company to be a responsible corporate citizen of this great country.

Reverend Dr Benard Kofi Adinkrah, Clerk of Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, said the Church believed in education and for that matter they were so thankful that a project of this nature was being sited on their land.

Emmanuel Justice Nkrumah, Head of Human Resource Unit of the Education Directorate of the Kwaebibiriem Municipality said the outfit would ensure that the ICT Centre was put to an effective use for the benefit of the School and the Community.

Nana Ohemeng Nimako, Nifahene of Asuom, who chaired the launch, expressed gratitude to ATC Ghana for the laudable Project.

Source: GNA