CSquared Champions ICT Education with Sponsorship of Coding Caravan in Sogakope

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CSquared, a leading technology company, committed to a digitally connected Africa, has joined hands with the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the Institute of ICT Professionals, Ghana (IIPGH) and the Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) Chamber of Ghana to organize coding training for some selected schools in the South Tongu District in the Volta Region of Ghana.  

The program, which came off on June 28, 2024, featured activities designed to introduce 236 pupils, from upper primary to junior high school levels, and 50 of their teachers to the basics of coding and animations using the Scratch application software, 3D designs using Tinkertoys, and an introduction to IoT through hands-on experience with Arduino kits to build a traffic-light system. 

In an interview with the media on the sidelines of the event, Stephen Gefli, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of CSquared, emphasized the company’s commitment to giving back to society through their C-Serve project, which focuses on societal upliftment. “We are proud to support the Coding Caravan initiative and collaborate with the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and IIPGH to ensure its success. Our goal is to extend our support to more communities, enabling students to develop essential digital skills,” Gefli stated. 

Dr. Ken Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the EMIs Chamber of Ghana, highlighted the critical need for ICT centres in districts and villages to provide continuous practice opportunities for students. “A one-day awareness programme is not sufficient to achieve our objectives. Establishing ICT facilities will enable pupils to practice regularly and develop their skills effectively,” he noted.

David Gowu, Executive Director of IIPGH, expressed his excitement about the initiative, stating: “This year, the Coding Caravan is back on the road, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We aim to expand and enhance this programme by bringing more partners on board and increasing our impact. Our ultimate objective is to establish coding clubs in schools, enabling students to participate in coding competitions, foster innovation, and create solutions that benefit our country and Africa as a whole.”

Gowu also mentioned that resources and funding are limiting factors for the programme’s growth, but they are focusing on raising awareness through a comprehensive roadshow called Accra-to-Paga that will navigate major towns, cities, and villages across the country, culminating in the northernmost region. Additionally, training sessions for teachers who have access to government-supplied computers and school labs are planned to equip educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to integrate coding into their teaching practices.

CSquared’s sponsorship of the Coding Caravan is a testament to their dedication to fostering digital skills and innovation among young people in Ghana, ensuring that students can benefit from continuous support and development in the ever-evolving technological landscape.

The event, which was hosted at the Comboni Technical Vocational Institute School and graced by the traditional leaders of the town, ended with the presentation of a brand new laptop to the school with the most active students during the days sessions, Sogakope D/A Basic School.

Source: Chamber News Desk

Telecommunications and EMIs Chamber’s engage NPP flagbearer on the Telecoms Manifesto

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The Vice President and the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been urged to prioritize and resolve key challenges that continue to plague the fortunes of the telecommunications industry as well as the digital payments ecosystem in Ghana if he wins the 2024 elections. The calls were made by the leadership of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) and the Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) Chamber of Ghana.

In a scheduled engagement on June 7, 2024 at the secretariat of the two Chambers in Accra, the NPP’s flagbearer was taken through some of the key issues affecting players in the two industries.

For the GCT, the following key issues among others were discussed;

  1. A conducive and supportive policy and regulatory environment
  2. An enabling tax regime
  3. Protection for industry infrastructure
  4. Cost of doing business and ease of doing business
  5. Indebtedness to industry
  6. Development of the needed human capital for the industry
  7. Increasing smartphone penetration across Ghana

Issues discussed for the EMIs Chamber meanwhile included;

  1. Repeal of the E-Levy law
  2. Facilitation of cross-border payments
  3. Driving digital payments for People to Government as well as merchant payments
  4. Enabling policy and regulatory environment
  5. Cost and ease of access to the Ghana card database among others

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications was led by its Chairman, the CEO of Telecel Ghana, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, Acting CEO of AT, Leo Skarlatos, CEO of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, CFO of ATC Ghana, Bright Owusu Bempah; and Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey the CEO of both Chambers.

The EMIs Chamber of Ghana was, on the other hand, led by the founding chairman of the Chamber, Philip Amoateng, the Director for Telecel Cash, the Acting Managing Director of AT Money, Mohammed Alhassan and other representatives.

On the NPP side, Vice President and flagbearer for the NPP, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia joined the two Chambers with the Honourable Minister for Communications and Digitalisation Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, immediate past majority leader and Chairman of the NPP manifesto committee for election 2024 Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Prof Kwaku Appiah-Adu the Senior Policy Advisor, Vice President’s Secretariat, Dr. Augustine Blay, Executive Secretary to the Vice President among other team members.

The meeting forms part of the efforts of the two Chambers, to share their key issues with all parties ahead of the December 7 elections, with the hope that the issues are captured in their respective manifestos and implemented once they come into power.

The NPP Flagbearer, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in his remarks to the room, highlighted his support for the sector especially spearheading the implementation of Mobile Money Interoperability in the country as Vice President. He expressed his commitment to ensuring that all the issues raised in the Telecoms Manifesto and at the meeting are worked on, working in close collaboration with members of both Chambers.

As part of both Chambers’ plans of meeting the flagbearers of the parties with representation in parliament, the two Chambers earlier in the week met with the NDC flagbearer H.E John Dramani Mahama on June 3, 2024.  The Chamber had earlier shared the Telecoms Manifesto with all political parties. The next step for the Chamber would be to review the manifestos of all the political parties to find out how much of the Telecoms Manifesto has been incorporated into the political parties’ manifestos. Then in 2025 monitor and advocate for the implementation of plans and policies of the ruling party to ensure that the issues raised in the Telecoms Manifesto are implemented for the benefit of the country.

Source: Chamber News Desk

Communications Minister calls on corporate Ghana to support Accra-to-Paga Coding Caravan initiative

Accra-to-Paga Coding Caravan initiative

(Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful)

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has called on the private sector to support programs dedicated to the teaching of ICT skills to the Ghanaian child such as the Coding Caravan.

She made the remarks at the start of the 3rd edition of the Coding Caravan at Dansoman ‘A’ Cluster of Schools in Accra, which came off on Wednesday 12th June, 2024. The program, which saw about 200 female students and 30 teachers, selected from 14 basic schools in the Ablekuma West Municipality, being trained in coding using the Scratch program, 3D designs and printing, as well as Internet of Things (IoT), was in commemoration of the 2024 International Girls-In-ICT Day.

In an interview with the media, on the sidelines of the program, Hon. Ursula mentioned that such important initiatives can only be sustained and scaled-up if they receive the active support and participation of corporate Ghana.

“This is such a laudable program and the benefits of it will be seen in the lives of these people and our country in the next 5 to 10 years. It is imperative that we sustain it, and it can only be sustained through sponsorship and funding support from the private sector.”

“So I would urge all those who haven’t yet contributed to it to support this program”, she added.

On his part, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, spoke of plans to extend the Coding Caravan program and its benefits to students across the rest of the country, including the Northern Belt, through the Accra-to-Paga edition of the initiative. He also mentioned that part of the objective of the Coding Caravan was to get the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to make Information Communication Technology (ICT) examinations “practical”.

“We want to use the training as a proof of concept that we can make ICT examinations for our children practical… Hopefully, out of this [training], we would be able to get some of the children to use these digital tools to solve problems around them,” he said. 

The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, who encouraged the girls to take advantage of the opportunity provided through the Coding Caravan initiative, stressed the immense benefit of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and encouraged the pupils to pursue careers in the area.

Mr Kafui Amanfo, Director of Operations, IIPGH, stressed the importance of digital literacy for young people.

He described the Coding Caravan as “an inclusive activity” which would be extended to hearing impaired pupils at Mampong in the Eastern Region.

“Leaving the underserved communities behind will not make the digital communication agenda conclusive. We need to bring everybody on board this development programme,” he stated.

In addition to Ablekuma West, the 2024 edition of the Coding Caravan is scheduled to make stops at Shai Osudoku, Sogakope and Mampong in the coming weeks.

(The organizers welcome volunteers and support in all kinds for the rest of the visits in 2024. Kindly contact the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications on 0302730500 or at info@telecomschamber.org)

Source: Chamber News Desk with contribution from GNA

Telecommunications and EMIs Chamber’s engage NDC flagbearer on the Telecoms Manifesto

Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) and its sister outfit, the EMIs Chamber of Ghana, have called for increased attention and support for the telecommunications industry as well as the digital payments ecosystem.

The calls were made during an engagement session between leadership of the two Chambers and the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and his team on Monday, June 3, 2024, in Accra, at the secretariat of the two Chambers. The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications was led by its Chairman, the CEO of Telecel Ghana, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, Acting CEO of AT, Leo Skarlatos, CEO of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, the Managing Director at Helios Towers Ghana, Angelo Govina and Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of both Chambers.

The EMIs Chamber of Ghana was, on the other hand, led by the founding chairman of the Chamber, Philip Amoateng, the Director for Telecel Cash, the Acting Managing Director of AT Money, Mohammed Alhassan, CEO of Mobile Money Limited, Shaibu Haruna, Edem Kpodo, the Operations Lead at G-Money, and other representatives.

On the NDC side, Former President and flagbearer for the NDC, H.E John Dramani Mahama, joined the two chambers with the Honourable Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George and other team members.

The meeting, which lasted about 2 hours, touched on key issues and challenges affecting members of both the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the EMIs Chamber of Ghana.

For the GCT, the following key issues were discussed:

  1. A conducive and supportive policy and regulatory environment
  2. An enabling tax regime
  3. Protection for industry infrastructure
  4. Cost of doing business and ease of doing business
  5. Indebtedness to industry
  6. Sustainable promotion of local content, among others

Issues discussed for the EMIs Chamber meanwhile included:

  1. Repeal of the E-Levy law
  2. Facilitating cross-border payments
  3. Driving digital payments for People to Government as well as merchant payments
  4. Enabling policy and regulatory environments
  5. Cost and ease of access to the Ghana card database, among others.

The meeting forms part of the efforts of the two chambers to share their key issues with all parties ahead of the December 7 elections, with the hope that the issues are captured in their respective manifestos and implemented once they come into power.

The flagbearer, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, gave his vision for the sector in which he had played active roles over the past 3 decades as Deputy Minister, Minister, and even Vice President and President. He assured members that all the issues raised in the Telecoms Manifesto and at the meeting would be dealt with, working in close collaboration with members of both chambers.

As part of both chambers plans to meet the flagbearers of the parties with representation in parliament, the two chambers are expected to meet with the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on June 7, 2024.

Source: Chamber News Desk.

AT Offers Flood Victims FREE CALLS to All Networks

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Ghana’s telecommunication network, AT is offering free voice calls to the affected customers and communities in the lower Volta area, including Battor, Atorkor, Glime, Akplabanya, Sogakope, Anloga, Ayetepe, and its environs to help relieve the communication needs of its customers.

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