Accra, Nov. 7, GNA – Vodafone Ghana has partnered the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to launch a not-for-profit “Big Data for Good” initiative aimed at using mobile-derived customer insights to make better predictions for sustainable development.

The concept will use data from mobile networks to make life-saving decisions, especially in a world which continues to be transformed by technology.

A release issued by Joakim Reiter of the Group External Affairs of Vodafone, and copied to the Ghana News Agency said Vodafone Ghana, Vodafone Group Foundation, GSS and Flowminder, a non-profit organisation have come together to lead the way in using “anonymised data” to track trends in population movements.

It said the data could be used for the purposes of decision-making in the health, agriculture, and transportation sectors among others, adding that the partnership was one that would support Ghana to use valuable metrics in making better analyses and predictions for the greater good of all.

The initiative is also expected to help the country to better measure the Sustainable Development Goals indicators.

“We are leading the way in supporting Ghana’s drive to undertake significant reforms to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.”

It said with close to five billion telecommunication subscribers globally, the power of the mobile phone could not be underestimated.

“Mobile data is now dictating the pace by helping countries and organisations to make better analyses and predictions and Ghana is in a unique position to become a trailblazer across the continent.”

“Our partnership with the Statistical Service, Vodafone Foundation and Flowminder is one that will ultimately prove why data from mobile networks can become a force for the good of society,” it said.

Mr Baah Wadieh, the Acting Government Statistician was quoted as saying that “Our stock-in-trade is to produce big and relevant data that inures to the benefit of the country and its people.”

He noted that there were opportunities and benefits of using “Call Data Records” to create transformation in many countries across the world and that it was not doubtful that the initiative would transform and impact on social lives in Ghana.

“The GSS will ultimately take ownership of the project with data reports from Vodafone Ghana, while Flowminder will ensure that effective mechanism is in place to mine and analyse the information for significant public benefit,” Mr Wadieh said.

The not-for-profit initiative programme is receiving generous funding from the Hewlett Packard Foundation.

Source: GNA http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/vodafone-and-statistical-service-launch-initiative-124637

Employees of the newly merged Airtel and Tigo in the last Friday of October marked the climax of this years’ Breast Cancer awareness month with a sea of Pink dress-codes in solidarity with Breast Cancer survivors.

The headquarters of both entities were vibrant and alive as employees created awareness on Breast Cancer Awareness month which was climaxed with a buffet lunch and fund-raising activities.

The merged entity had a lot to celebrate given that they have over the years supported Breast Cancer campaigns by raising funds among themselves and supporting various institutions in creating awareness on early detection and caring for survivors.

This years’ internal awareness campaign which builds on the successes of activities over the years, featured a month-long digital news portal updates to employees on the signs to look out for, how to self-examine and treatment options when such signs are reported for early medical attention.

Employees were also sensitized against stigmatization and encouraged to be strong support systems for loved ones who find the selves with the devastating disease. They also partnered with NGO, Breast Care International for this year’s ‘Walk for Cure’ awareness campaign in Koforidua in the Eastern region.

The Breast Cancer awareness month has become an institutionalized feature for employee engagements for Tigo and Airtel staff to compliment the national agenda which was this year themed “Early Detection and Effective Treatment Save Lives”.

Source: NewsGhana https://www.newsghana.com.gh/tigo-airtel-staff-organize-fundraising-activities-to-end-breast-cancer-month/

MTN Ghana Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of MTN, has invested over 13 million dollars in building school blocks, libraries and Information Communication Technology Centres around the country in the last 10 years.

The investment is to enhance teaching capabilities, constructing and equipping hospital wards, paying tuition and supporting entrepreneurship. Professor Franklin Manu, the Board Chairman MTN Ghana Foundation, said that at the launch of its 10th anniversary to celebrate a decade of transforming and improving the wellbeing of communities across Ghana.

The celebration is on the theme: “Celebrating Ten years of Brightening lives, inspiring a brighter future.”

He said these achievements were outstanding and in recognition of this, the MTN Ghana Foundation has been rewarded by several institutions.

He said indeed it has a been a decade of great transformations and improved wellbeing for the communities they have touched spanning the North, South, East and West of Ghana.

He said as the company leads in the transformation of Ghana’s telecommunications sector, the Foundation was expected to continue to provide leadership in the communities and would ensure that the impact was felt in all spheres of life.

Pro Manu said through the interventions of the MTN Ghana Foundation, more people in rural as well as urban communities now have access to improved healthcare and in the same vein, thousands of expectant mothers now deliver in comfortable hospitals that we have refurbished or constructed.

“The newly constructed maternity unit of the Tema General Hospital which would be opening soon is a classic example,” he said.

He said these interventions have saved many lives in remote and urban communities in Ghana and all of this made possible from funds generated from a network “we consistently strive to enhance and expand.”

"My colleagues and I will continue to search, innovate and implement strategies and projects that will brighten lives ‘everywhere we go’,” he added.

The Board Chairman said “We have not just invested financial resources; we have also invested quality time and made a lot of sacrifices to make lives better.”

He said their “Save a life campaign” which organizes the annual blood donation exercise was introduced to help address the perennial blood shortage at the National Blood Bank and other regional hospitals.

The campaign has since then, collected over 6,000 pints of blood.

Mrs Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Executive Secretary of the Foundation, said as part of activities to celebrate the anniversary, which was to end in March 2018, the Foundation has put together both internal and external events.

The activities include economic empowerment day, education day, staff volunteering day, community-driven corporate social responsibility in MTN’s three business districts and a visit to the Borstal Home.

She said the Foundation would also be embarking on some projects to mark the anniversary like partnering with ‘Operation Smile’ to help people, who have congenital disabilities and would need some surgery, put up an oil palm production centre in the Ashanti Region and give 300 scholarship to students.

Source: GNA

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has announced the appointment of Kenneth Ashigbey as Chief Executive Officer. He assumes duty on November 1st 2017.

Kenneth joins the Chamber from the Graphic Communications Group Limited, where he was the Managing Director. He was previously the CEO at Optimum Media Prime (OMP) and also worked as the Chief Technology Officer at the Multimedia Group Ltd.

Ms. Yolanda Cuba, Chair of the Chamber, said “we welcome Kenneth to the Chamber. With a customer base of more than 19 million unique subscribers in Ghana, the mobile industry continues to change how we communicate. We look forward to working with Ken to deliver a lot more excitement to customers.”

On his part Kenneth said, “I am honored to be joining the industry at such a time of significant opportunities, despite the progress made. The Chamber will continue to positively impact the lives of Ghanaians by advocating for the right policy, legal and regulatory environment.”

He is appreciative of the tremendous work done by his predecessor, Kwaku Sakyi Addo and remains confident that “together, we can build on that”.

Kenneth holds an MBA from the Leicester University and a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering from the KNUST.

Media Contacts:
For the Chamber
Derek B. Laryea
Head, Communications & Research
+233-302730500