Accra, June 2 GNA - MTN, a leading Mobile Phone Network in the country on Monday launched its community development programme dubbed; "21 Days of Yello Care 2008" in Accra.

The programme, which was instituted by the MTN Group was to encourage employees of the company to show commitment to the company's social investment drive.

The programme is taking pla ce in all 21 operating units of MTN in Both Middle East and Africa and the operating unit that wins the challenge would receive 100,000 dollars prize money. Mrs. Ama Benneh-Amponsah, the Human Resource Executive, who represented Mr Bret Goshen, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, speaking at the launch said the company's commitment to social responsibility was now better expressed through the contribution employees in addition to the company itself.

He said the company was giving a national phase to this year's activities by implementing projects and carrying out activities throughout the country.

He said the company's participation in the programme would impact positively on the communities where it operated. Mr Goshen said the foundation team had received interesting ideas from members of staff and would be rolling out these projects in communities where MTN operates. He said project ideas include painting of selected schools and hospitals, grassing of some football pitches, donation of books, toys and medical supplies and provision of white canes and radio to the blind school.

He said employees would also be cleaning some markets, streets and would spend time with mothers and babies at identified hospitals as well as some "MTNers" holding reading sessions with selected schools and have motivational sessions with the blind, prison inmates and deprived groups like porters and street children. Ms. Mawuena Dumor, Corporate Executive of MTN said the 21 Days of Yello Care challenge would allow employees to do community work to manifest the company's community spirit. She said the event would also enable the company to reach out to members of the community and encourage the staff to participate in the programme. She urged the staff to show commitment to ensure that Ghana's operating unit wins the challenge.