Ghana is about to witness the largest-ever ICT project named ‘the Ghana ICT Hub’ as MTN Ghana cuts sod for construction of the Ghana ICT Hub to develop the country’s ICT ecosystem in the areas of Health, Agriculture and Education through on-site and remote access delivery to facilitate skills development and job creation for the youth.
The project which was described as the telecommunications giant’s largest-ever ICT project in its over-25-year history in the country, is part of the company’s pledge to spend US$25million toward various initiatives aimed at facilitating and deepening the country’s digital transformation agenda.
The chief executive officer of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevor, speaking at a virtual sod-cutting ceremony for the project in Accra, said the Ghana ICT Hub will play a critical role in deepening the foundational root of the country’s digitalisation agenda, “and give our budding youth a chance to transform Ghana in ways never imagined”.
“While we dream, I know that dreams do not just come true in the absence of commitment, dedication and sacrifices – be it financial or others – to support it. This is what MTN Ghana has shown and why we are all gathered here today. We look at Silicon Valley today and forget that it portrays a history of relationships between academic institutions, venture funds, accelerators, support facilities and a willing government, as well as thousands of bright minds from industry.
“When purpose meets action, collaboration and commitment, we get Silicon Valley. That is exactly what we hope the Ghana ICT Hub brings to Ghana, and today’s virtual sod-cutting is the first step of many more ahead. Our purpose is to prepare the youth of Ghana to have better prospects of succeeding and competing in the global digital economy.”
Selorm Adadevor
Mr Adadevor noted that the telecom giant’s dream to transform Ghana through ICT-enablement has no boundaries; stressing that the Ghana ICT Hub project is only a small part of a broader project called the ‘Ghana Innovation Hub’ project.
A Significant Milestone in Digitalisation Agenda
Dr. Ishmael Yamson, the chairman of MTN Ghana’s Board of Directors, on his part, said constructing the Ghana ICT Hub marks a significant milestone of the country’s journey in its digitalisation agenda. He noted that MTN Ghana as part of its 25th anniversary celebration committed to continue investing in the development of technology and innovation in Ghana, and to move from mere words to action: “We pledged to spend US$25million toward various initiatives, including the building of a state-of-the-art Digital ICT Hub.
“The impact this Digital ICT Hub promises is immense. Firstly, this project will provide a platform for the development of technology solutions by SMEs and other entrepreneurs seeking a means to incubate transformative products aimed at solving local problems. Secondly, the Digital ICT Hub will be provisioned to develop ICT skills for the youth all over Ghana, and this should result in ICT skills enhancement and capacity building; it will also help develop an ICT ecosystem through remote access delivery to facilitate job creation for national development.
“Lastly, the digital ICT Hub will be a place for nurturing creativity and innovation in the areas of Education, Health and Agriculture – and we expect the hub to help create an ICT-enabled environment for human capital and ICT Skills development.”
Dr. Ishmael Yamson
Opportunities for Ghana’s Start-ups
Communications and Digitalisation Minister Ursula Owusu Ekuful, also iterated government’s commitment toward digitalising the Ghanaian economy, noting that the digital economy presents numerous opportunities for Ghana’s burgeoning start-ups, SMEs, businesses and entrepreneurs to leverage digital skills and explore opportunities within the digital ecosystem.
MTN has been at the forefront of championing sustainable socio-economic interventions and initiatives in Ghana for more than 25 years, serving as a strategic partner in building the nation.
Under the ‘Ghana Innovation Hub’ project, there are three pillars including: the Ghana ICT Hub (this project), the Accra Innovation City Project and the Ghana Education Platform project.
The Ghana ICT Hub is a physical Infrastructure designed to provide 4,000 square metres of space with ancillary facilities and unique features. The whole project is scheduled to be completed in approximately 18 months from when construction begins. When completed, the Ghana ICT Hub is expected to train over 200,000 youth in ICT and digital skills and generate more than 100,000 jobs within the first three years.
The hub will be an ultra-modern office facility, providing office spaces and meeting venues for more than one hundred (100) Tech companies which will incubate new ideas and innovations, driving the start-up buzz in the hub after completion. It will also create an ICT ecosystem in the health, agriculture and education sectors.
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