MTN provides US$100,000 ICT Learning for Komenda
by David Allan Paintsil
In its drive to increase internet penetration, as well as equipping Ghanaians to make the country a knowledge-based economy, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) has provided an ultra-modern ICT Learning Centre for residents in and around Komenda in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality in the Central Region.
The Centre, which was constructed at the cost of US$100,000 by MTN, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was to help train pupils, students, teachers and workers in 13 communities, according to Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, MTN Corporate Services Executive, to equip them with computer knowledge.
The MTN officials joined the Omanhen of Komenda Traditional Area, Nana Kwodwo Kru II, to inaugurate the centre last Friday.
According to Mrs. Lumor, MTN highly appreciated the efforts of their partners from the UNDP, Ministry of Education, chiefs and community stakeholders, as well as the MTN Foundation team and Board of Directors, whose immense contributions had resulted in the setting up of seven out of 10 centres the telecom giant had projected to provide across the country.
She said their visit to the Ankaful Prison, where the company set up a computer centre for the inmates recently, had made some of the inmates computer literate, and who have requested to be allowed to write external examinations to enable them earn certificates for the courses they undertook, which would guarantee them employment in future.
Mrs. Lumor, however, appealed to all the beneficiaries to be part of the maintenance of the project to ensure sustainability for future generations.
The Municipal Chief Executive of the KEEA, Mr. Isaac Kweku Sam, advised the pupils and students to take advantage of the centre to broaden their knowledge in ICT, to enable them fit into the global market.
The UNDP Partnership Adviser, Frederick Hans Ampiah, said internet usage had become very important in the area of research, especially in education, fashion, designing and mechanics, and called on the youth in the area to make good use of the 20 computers connected to the internet at the centre.
On his part, Nana Kwodwo Kru commended MTN for the project, adding that it was not coincidence that the project was sited there, because Komenda was a unique town that had produced prominent personalities like late President John Evans Atta Mills, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, Lawyer Ebo Barton Odro, Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and Mr. Ato Essuman, a Council of State Member, among others.
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