EmbraceEquity: closing the gender disparity in Ghana's tech and innovation ecosystem.
Ghana's digital ecosystem week in review: Vodafone's path to gender equity, GCB completes first PAPSS client transaction, Babies to get Ghana card number, STI Policy soon to be outdoored...
Accra Digital Digest No. #000110
Date: March 1 2023 – March 12, 2023
Dear friends,
How are you/your company celebrating women in the tech, bridging the STEM gender-divide, challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias, and ensuring gender-inclusion in tech? Send us an email with your story - accradigitaldigest@nodeeight.com
Here are the most important news perspectives, analysis, and insights about Ghanaian digital ecosystem should you take note.
Digital infrastructure & platforms
News updates
MTN, Huawei sign MoU to advance digital inclusion & sustainable dev't
MTN Group and Huawei have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen strategic cooperation in environmental, social and governance matters.
Provision of Ghana Card numbers to newborn babies begins March 31 – Bawumia
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says Ghana-Card numbers will be issued to newborn babies at birth from March 31, 2023. The number will be a special identity for every child throughout his/her education journey and not wait till 15 years before registration.
MTN Ghana misses 30 percent localization target
MTN Ghana has fallen short of its goal to increase its local ownership by 30 percent by end of 2022, according to the company’s financial results. The local component of MTN’s ownership was 23.7 percent at end of the year; the same as first-quarter 2022.
Digital governance
News updates
Science and Technology Policy review ready soon.
The Ghana Sciene and Technology Poligy is currently under review and will be ready by the end of first quarter of 2023.
Digital finance
News updates
GCB completes first PAPSS client transaction
GCB Bank Plc has successfully completed the first Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) client transaction in Ghana. The transaction involved a Ghanaian incorporated entity initiating a supplier payment from GCB in Ghana cedis to a beneficiary in Nigeria – who received the payment in naira instantly.
Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh) has begun the operational setup of its Ci-Gaba fund of funds, which seeks to unlock US$75 million in local and international funding for local capital providers, who are investing in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Fido app is now available to iPhone users
Fido, the leading Fintech company whose mission is to empower individuals and entrepreneurs to capture opportunities in Africa, has launched its iOS app for iPhones users.
Cross Switch Ghana LTD and Cross Switch International S.A.R.L. are pleased to announce that Cross Switch Ghana LTD has obtained approval.
Op-eds
Why is Africa’s insurance penetration low?
Author explored the reaons behind the low insurance penetration across Africa and proposed solutions to turn int around.
Digital entrepreneurship
News updates
EU, GoG launch Circular Economy Competition
The European Union (EU) in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation have launched the 2nd edition of the Circular Economy Competition to support Ghana’s gradual transition to a circular economy.
GEA launches Business Integrity Project to enhance compliance
The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) has launched a Business Integrity Project to support high growth small medium enterprises (SMEs) to incorporate anti-corruption, compliance, regulatory and integrity activities into their business operations.
UNIDO, GEA And Japan Open Applications For Its National Kaizen Initiative For Msmes
The call for proposal under the joint implementation of UNIDO and the GEA is part of activities of its $3.9 Million project “Expanding the Kaizen Initiatives by Enhancing Sustainable Agri-Business”, funded by the government of Japan to sustainably and continually improve quality and productivity of businesses in Ghana.
288,800 applications received for Youstart Programme
Youstart programme is intended to provide the needed support to young entrepreneurs to gain access to capital, market, training and technical skills among others.
Access Bank, UCC equip SMEs with growth skills
ACCESS Bank and the Design and Thinking Innovation Hub (D-Hub) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have organised a workshop for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen and build their finance and digitalisation capacities for business growth.
Leti Arts Partners With Netherlands Studio, 8D Games, To Launch Sex Ed Game
Ghanaian game studio startup, Leti Arts, has partnered with Netherlands Studio, 8D games to launch Shkorey, a sex ed-game designed to promote knowledge of sexual health and birth care among Eritrean youth in the Netherlands.
CEO Of Kola Market, Marie-Reine Seshie, Shortlisted for the Aurora Tech Awards 2023
Marie-Reine Seshie, Co-founder and CEO of Kola Market, a Ghana-based machine learning technology start-up, has been shortlisted amongst 22 global female contestants for the Aurora Tech Awards 2023.
FloodGates Limited, a technology company with a mission to advance the world through digital solutions, has won the #Tech4Democracy Venture Day Africa Competition held in Cape Town, South Africa on the 7th of March 2023.
Digital talents
News updates
IWD: Vodafone Ghana’s innovative path to gender parity and digital equity
Vodafone Ghana’s flagship programs - Female Engineering Scholarship Scheme Programme (FESSP), provides opportunities for promising female students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
Karpower, KNUST and UNESCO marked International Day of Engineering.
Karpowership Ghana and the Ghana Commission for the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held a seminar for students offering engineering programmes at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to commemorate the International Day of Engineering.
Academic City holds 5th matriculation ceremony
Academic City University College has marked its annual matriculation ceremony with a pledge to nurture a new generation of problem-solvers who will employ innovation to advance the development of Africa.
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