Ghana’s biggest telecommunications network, MTN Ghana, has cut sod for the construction of a $25 million ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ at the Accra Digital Centre.
The ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ aims to develop an 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 in Ghana.When completed, the Hub will consist of a physical infrastructure designed to provide 4,000 square meters of space with ancillary facilities and unique features.
The Ghana ICT Hub is expected to be completed in approximately 18 months from when construction begins.
The sod cutting ceremony forms part of MTN’s fulfilment of a promise to support Ghana’s digitalization agenda during its 25th anniversary celebrations in 2021.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh, stated that the project is to support innovation and new tech start-ups to drive the growth of the Ghana ICT ecosystem.
He said that 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.
He added that the Hub will be an ultra-modern office facility, providing office spaces and meeting venues for more than 100 tech companies that will incubate new ideas and innovations, driving the start-up buzz in the hub after completion.
“The establishment of the Ghana ICT Hub will help build the future we want for our youth and foster new sources of economic growth for Ghana,” he stressed.
The CEO of MTN Ghana indicated that as the world continues to evolve, it is important for Ghana’s youth to be equipped with ICT and digital skills to stay relevant and competitive, especially within the region when one thinks of the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Our purpose is to prepare the youth of Ghana to have better prospects succeeding and competing in the global digital economy,” he noted.
He mentioned that MTN’s dream is to transform Ghana through ICT enablement.
He explained that “The Ghana ICT Hub project is only a small part of a broader project called the ‘Ghana Innovation Hub’ project”.
According to Mr. Adadevoh, there are three pillars under the “Ghana Innovation Hub” project, which are the Ghana ICT Hub, the Accra Innovation City Project and the Ghana Education Platform project.
“We believe in playing our part in Africa’s transformation and this investment is directly in line with that belief,” he added.
Board Chairman of the MTN Ghana Board, Dr. Ishmael Yamson, said that the board is excited about the impact the projects will have on the youth and what it means for job creation, innovation and Ghana’s competitiveness in the Sub-region.
“Beyond that, there is no doubt that we are already exposed to the global marketplace and competition for skills and talent; with the advent of remote work, we stand to be counted if our youth are skilled in the relevant technologies such as coding, AI and Robotics, and have a place to put their learnings to practice,” he explained.
The Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, expressed Government’s gratitude to the MTN Group and its leadership for their kind gesture, adding that they have become a model for emulation.
“I must say that your continuous commitment, partnerships, and efforts to be at the frontier of championing digital innovations in Ghana is extremely commendable,” she said.
The Minister stated the ICT hub will facilitate the paradigm shift needed to accelerate Ghana’s progress with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
She mentioned that the ICT hub will complement Ghana Digital Centres Limited’s focus on a nationwide network of digital transformation centres and interventions nurturing new businesses.
“I believe this edifice will significantly deepen Ghana’s current digital strides to reposition Ghana’s image within the sub-region and the continent” she added.
