Accra, Sept. 29, GNA - The MTN Ghana Foundation in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has inaugurated an ICT Centre of Learning at Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region.

This is part of the Foundation's 10 ICT projects estimated at one million dollars. They would be furnished with 220 desktop computers, 10 laptops, 10 projectors, 10 colour

printers, 10 photocopiers, 10 scanners and digital cameras along with the requisite

furniture in all the 10 Regions of Ghana. The grand inauguration of the project was undertaken by Mr Paul Boateng, a Patron of

MTN Ghana Foundation, as part of his working visit to the country at Ningo in the Greater

Accra Region in August this year. A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said the MTN ICT Centres of Learning were

being executed in a joint partnership with UNDP Ghana to bring ICT services closer to the

underserved and deprived communities in the country and fostering the efforts of inclusive

growth. The intervention is not only targeted at augmenting government's eff= ort in

implementing the mandatory ICT component of the new Educational Reform, but to also

explore ICTs to improve pedagogy towards attaining the Compulsory Universal Basic

Education in response to the Millennium Development Goal 2 (MDG2). Inaugurating the centre, Mr Michael Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, said

Kumasi was one of the key Regions for the business of MTN. "MTN believes it is important to empower the youth through various avenues like

education, health facilities, sports and quality entertainment and through the use of ICT

facilities to enhance and achieve the needed impact. "The provision of this ICT Centre is to ensure that young people in all parts of the

country have access to information, knowledge and the ability to transact their businesses

wherever they find themselves." Mr Ikpoki said currently, MTN was engaging Asanteman in the "Enriching Lives

Project" which offered MTN the opportunity to interact with people in the Region with the

ultimate aim of deepening MTN's brand affinity in the Region. The Country Director of UNDP, Kamil Kamaluddeen, expressed gratitude to the

Nyinahin community for their support and entreated them to continue to own the project

and sustain it. He reiterated the UN's global position on ICTs and its role in giving voice to the

marginalised. "We are living in times when developments in the global economy and ICTs are

resulting in fundamental changes to our lives. The 21st Century has emerged as an era

where globalisation and technological changes continue to create a new global economy

powered by technology, fuelled by information and driven by knowledge. "This calls for us to examine the changing future roles of our children and how they

can be properly equipped and integrated to be able to partake and exert influence in this

new global economy." Mr Kamaluddeen was hopeful that the MTN ICT Centre of Learning initiative would

contribute to accelerate the pace of universal access to ICTs as part of reinforcing the

fundamental rights of the marginalised and vulnerable poor. Nana Amanpene Boateng Twum II, Chief of Nyinahin, expressed appreciation for the

project. He said though the project was a myth in the past, the inauguration w= as a

monumental evidence of the many dividends yielded by MTN and UNDP in Ghana. "Please let us appreciate what these two giants have done by not engaging in any

internet fraud or use it for any negative purpose. If we use it wisely, we will fully benefit

from it," he added. Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua thanked= MTN

and UNDP for the intervention and encouraged the community to ensure that the centre

was maintained for them to reap the full benefits that came with it. The other eight ICT centres yet to be inaugurated are located at Adidome (Volta

Region), Esiama (Western Region), Komenda (Central Region), Kpong (Eastern Region),

Techimantia (Brong Ahafo Region), Tolon(Northern Region), Pwalugu(Upper East Region)

and Hamile (Upper West Region). In December 2008, MTN Ghana Foundation, entered into a strategic agreement with

UNDP Ghana to develop the MTN ICT Centres of Learning Project meant to be

implemented throughout the country. Since its establishment in 2007, the MTN Ghana Foundation has supported Ghana's

educational system in diverse ways. In conjunction with its strategic partners, MTN is,

among other education projects, putting up a six-classroom block for Zujung Community

School in the Northern Region, a three-unit classroom block at Asempaneye in the Eastern

Region in partnership with Rotary Club (RC) - Ghana and supported five schools in the

Northern Region under the AED (Academy for Education Development) project w= ith

teaching and learning materials. It has supported the National Best Teacher Award over the past three years with a total

of GH¢112,500 and is providing the Akropong School For the Blind with a 1= 6-unit

dormitory block, 20 desktops for ICT laboratory and a 33-seater Coaster School bus. The MTN Foundation was established by the MTN Group Board as the vehicle for

effectively administering MTN's Corporate Social Responsibility contribut= ions. The Foundation is funded by a percentage of profit after tax (PAT) of the relevant

operating unit, and has so far launched two flagship projects since its establishment in

November 2007. These are the refurbishment of the second floor of the maternity block of Korle Bu

Teaching Hospital in Accra and establishment of 10 MTN ICT Learning Centres in all

regions of Ghana.