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Ghana's digital ecosystem week in review: MTN zone resurrected, Ghana's KYC startup approve acquired, Ghana signs to Africa data & ID pack, MTN makes close to 10 billion in 2022, and more ..
Accra Digital Digest No. #001101
Date: April 17 - April 30, 2023
Happy May Day!
Today, we honour all diligent professionals in the digital economy. While you enjoy your vacation, here are thee most important news, perspectives, analysis, and insights about Ghanaian digital ecosystem to take note of.
Digital infrastructure & platforms
News updates
MTN Ghana CEO calls for Fiber Sharing
CEO of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevor has called on government to grant approval for infrastructure (particularly fibre) sharing to enable telcos and internet service providers (ISPs) in the country expand connectivity faster and wider in a more cost effective manner.
UN World Data Forum: Vodafone Ghana’s Angela Mensah-Poku speaks on Data for Social Good
The Commercial and Digital Operations Director at Vodafone Ghana has highlighted the role of data in driving social good at the United Nations World Data Forum.
MTN Ghana records GHS9.9 billion revenue 2022, as 4G coverage tops 99%
MTN Ghana posted an impressive total revenue of over GHS9.9 billion in 2022, out of which service revenue alone was more than GHS9.88 billion.This is contained in the 2022 end of year financial report, under Operational and Financial Review.
CSA signs MoU with Elizabeth Sloane Institute of Technology
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and the Elizabeth Sloane Institute of Technology (ESIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build the capacity of Cybersecurity Professionals under a grant programme.
The partnership will bring together, globally recognised and Industry standard Cyber Security Certification programmes to support the Authority’s efforts in promoting the development of cybersecurity in the country.
MTN Ghana reconnects over 1.95m SIMs
MTN Ghana has reconnected 1,954,295 of SIM cards disconnected as a result of the National SIM re-registration.This leaves 3,804,940 disconnected SIMs. In November 2022, MTN Ghana disconnected 5,759,235 customers.
50 SHSs to participate in 2023 National Cybersecurity Challenge
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has launched the 2023 edition of the National Cybersecurity Challenge to promote cybersecurity awareness among senior high school (SHS) students. Dubbed: National cybersecurity challenge; empowering the next generation, the competition will feature 50 SHSs from all the 16 regions of the country.
Health Minister urges healthcare workers to control drone delivery of medical supplies
Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the Minister of Health, says the flagrant abuse of the Zipline drone delivery of essential medical supplies by some health workers, is draining the coffers of the Ministry.
MTN’s digital revenue declines after clearing SMS-based services that cause airtime to vanish
Revenue from MTN Ghana’s digital services has been declining year on year for a while now, and the CEO, Selorm Adadevoh says it is because the company has cleaned up its value-added service (VAS) portfolio to remove all unsolicited subscriptions that were reportedly causing people’s airtime to vanish without their knowledge.
Op-eds
Artificial intelligence, intelligence gathering & analysis, crime management
The author analysed AI and detailed how it can be used for Crime Prediction and Prevention
Digital governance
News updates
We are scratching our heads on how to regulate the digital space – NITA Official
Chief Technical Officer at the National Information Technology Authority (NITA), Solomon Kofi Richardson, has disclosed that regulating the digital space has not been an easy task for regulators like NITA because they are now trying to understand the space well in order to proffer appropriate and effective regulations.
Ghana today led some five African countries to sign the Smart Africa Trust Alliance (SATA) declaration on data and digital identity interoperability. The four other countries were Zimbabwe, Gabon, Tunisia, and Guinea, who together with Ghana, signed as Foundation members of SATA.
Gov’t to provide unique global legal identity to all businesses – Veep
The Government has started discussions with the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) to enable it to provide unique global identity to all businesses in Ghana. The legal identity identifier is a unique reference code used across markets and jurisdictions, to uniquely identify a legally distinct entity that engages in financial transactions.
SIM registration for existing subscribers ends on May 31
The Director General of the National Communictaion Auhtority, Joe Anokye has announced that the ongoing SIM registration exercise end of may 31, 2023. The exercise commence on Octboer 1, 2021.
SIM swap fraud: Five arrested and put on trial
Five persons, including a woman, between the ages of 22 and 30 years, are standing trial for swapping SIM cards and using them to access and transfer various amounts from ECOBANK customers’ accounts.
Fisheries Ministry pilots Electronic Monitoring System on trawlers
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has started a pilot deployment of an Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) on industrial trawlers as part of measures to sustain Ghana’s fisheries.
op-eds
Is The Ghana Government Getting In The Way of Private Tech With Its Own Tech Solutions?
The Ghana government has been developing and implementing its own tech solutions for various public services and functions, such as digital identity, revenue collection, and health insurance. While these initiatives may seem commendable and beneficial for the citizens, they also pose a threat to the existing and emerging tech startups that may already be in the market offering similar or complementary services.
Digital finance
News updates
US$30m investment for SMEs; PEs, VCs lead the way
Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) funds are set to invest at least US$30million in small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) during 2023, according to Board Chair of the Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, Matthew Boadu Adjei.
Bank of Africa (BOA) Ghana has announced its partnership with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to launch financial market infrastructure (FMI) that will facilitate trade and other economic activities among African countries.
Mobile Money Agents Association signs MoU with Fido Loan
The Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MMAAG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Fido Loan, a financial institution, to support their activities. The MoU was also meant to provide the groundwork for future collaboration to promote business, particularly among the country’s youth.
Africa Fintech Network gets $525,000 AfDB grant to build Fintech Hub
The African Development Bank has signed a $525,000 grant agreement with Africa Fintech Network (AFN) for the setup of the Africa Fintech Hub, an online portal that will serve as a one-stop shop for all fintech activities in Africa.
Digital entrepreneurship
News updates
Africa’s Smile Identity acquires Appruve’s parent company to enhance expertise & broaden reach
Smile Identity announced that it has acquired Appruve’s parent company (Inclusive Innovations, Inc.) and is actively fulfilling regulatory requirements to finalise the transaction for the affiliated entities in Africa.
Smart Africa, ADF earmark $1.5 million to enhance digital trade, e-commerce across Africa
The African Development Fund and Smart Africa Alliance have jointly launched a $1.5 million project to streamline digital trade and e-commerce policies across 10 African countries.
mNotify rebrands as customer engagement powerhouse
mNotify, a leading messaging solutions provider in the country and across Africa, has announced its transformation into a customer engagement company.
MTN Ghana Foundation launches enterprise support programme
MTN Ghana Foundation has launched the Enterprise Support Programme geared towards boosting youth entrepreneurship and driving innovation across the country.
UPSA organises maiden entrepreneurship fair
The University of Professional Studies (UPSA) has organised the maiden edition of the entrepreneurship fair to provide intensive coaching and mentorship opportunities to students.
Digital talents
News updates
Prof. Francis Davis appointed TCC UNESCO Centre of Excellence Director-General
The Governing Board of the Technology Consultancy Centre UNESCO Category 2 Centre of Excellence has appointed Prof. Francis Davis, an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with specialization in design and manufacturing as the Director-General of the Centre.
Wisconsin Business School bridges gap between academia and industry
The Business School of Wisconsin International University College Ghana, has developed an entrepreneurship and innovation training initiative to equip students with relevant skills and bridge the gap between academia and industry
GBC Boss details how he and NCA tried to bar Kevin Taylor from broadcasting to Ghanaians
The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof Amin Alhassan has detailed how in his bid to help the Government regulate media content and deal with “reckless and irresponsible journalism”, alerted “an important regulator” and worked with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to stop journalist Kevin Taylor and his Loud Silence Media from broadcasting to Ghanaians through Direct To Home(DTH) channels.
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Cheers! 🍻