By Frank Amponsah
President Akufo-Addo has asked the board, management and staff of Ghana’s leading mobile telecommunications company, MTN, to take steps to address the critical service concerns of its over twenty-five million (25,000,000.00) subscribers to guarantee customers efficient, affordable and reliable service.
Speaking at a ceremony to officially launch the ‘MTN at 25’ celebration at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said that as MTN celebrates twenty-five years of doing business in Ghana, it needs to strive even harder to provide subscribers the quality service they deserve.
“Let me end by reminding MTN of the critical concerns of Ghanaians vis-a-vis the provision of telecommunications services, which are the affordability, availability, quality, reliability and speed of the service. You should strive even harder to obtain these goals,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Rapid Digital Transformation
The President further observed, “All around the world, rapid digital transformation is reshaping economies and improving lives as it presents huge opportunities for efficiency, innovation, job creation, enhanced revenue generation and overall economic growth. It is also transforming social and economic life and changing the world as we know it on a daily basis”.
To this end, the President indicated that Ghana, and for that matter Ghanaians, could not be left out of the evolution and that government through the Ministry of Communication and Digitization has embarked on an ambitious programme to transform Ghana’s economy through the application of digital technologies to help ensure that every Ghanaian derives the maximum benefit from the process.
Removing Barriers
President Akufo-Addo in his address acknowledged that there exist some barriers in the way of MTN and all other mobile telecommunications companies operating in the country. He however pledged that his administration will continue to work with all mobile telecommunications companies to remove existing barriers.
“We will continue collaborating with you to address and remove any barriers that stifle digital inclusion,” he stated.
MTN Corporate / Social Contributions
MTN, according to President Akufo-Addo, has been a responsible corporate citizen through the prompt payment of taxes. The President also commended MTN for supporting the efforts of the state throughout the COVID-19 pandemic fight.
“I’ve been reliably informed MTN has also ensured expeditious payment of its accessed taxes as a responsible corporate citizen and this has been suitably recognized by the authorities. I also want to thank you very much for your contribution of PPEs, vaccines and other COVID related relief items to support government’s efforts to contain the pandemic and I acknowledge also your support for the Ghana Cares Obaatapa Programme, which seeks to revamp our post COVID-19 economy,” President Akufo-Addo said.
MTN CEO
Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Selorm Adadevoh, in his statement noted that the company’s twenty-five year journey had not been all smooth but overall, a worthwhile one. MTN, he says, is looking forward to even greater technological advancement in the years ahead.
“I would like to emphasize that the 25-year journey has not been a walk in the park. We are where we are today, because of the sacrifices of many, several of whom are not here with us today; I also acknowledge the systems and policies that have guided our existence and journey through the 25 years,” Selorm Adadevoh said.