The investment also forms part of the company’s new Ambition 2025 strategy, which aims to transform the network from a traditional telecom (telco) player to a platform or technology (techco) player with enhanced digital services.
Under this ambitious plan, the company intends to build several key platforms, including financial technology (Fintech) solutions, MTN’s digital/Ayoba platform, enterprise solutions, network as a service, and an API marketplace.
It will propel the telco to become a solid techco capable of accelerating technology adoption, influencing businesses, and supporting the economy.
MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Selorm Adadevoh, announced this at the inaugural MTN Media Awards in Accra last Friday, where two reporters from the Graphic Communications Group Ltd received awards.
Ama Amankwa Baafi of the Graphic Business was named Best Report in the Print Category, and Suleiman Mustapha was named Second Runner-up in the Print Category.
Samuel Dowuona is a telecommunications writer for Techgh24. He was named Overall Best Writer after winning the top prize in the Online Category.
The awards were given to commemorate MTN’s 25th anniversary in the country. MTN began in the country as Spacefon, then became Spacefon Areeba after an acquisition, before MTN took over the company after acquiring its Investcom in 2006.
According to Mr Adadevoh, the company’s 25th anniversary served as a platform for the company to restrategize and launch a new focus called the Ambition 2025 strategy.
“As a result of this, we now have a new position and a refreshed brand.” MTN is now transitioning from a traditional telco to a techco platform business.
“As a result, along the way to Techco, there will be several new and exciting initiatives to deliver quality and superior services,” he explained.
He defined a techco as “a technology company that presented a platform to enable the ecosystem or environment for all units of society to leverage in order to meet their needs.”
As a techco, MTN is on a journey to become a platform player that enhances and accelerates the ecosystem, rather than just a traditional telecommunications company.
“This will necessitate investment, strategic restructuring, and a variety of other factors such as culture and mindset, so we will have to make significant changes.”
“Over the next five years, we have committed to investing more than $1 billion in our infrastructure alone, including becoming a platform player,” he said.
Professor Kwame Karikari, a communications consultant and GCGL’s immediate past Board Chairman, said the award was a significant gesture to the country’s media space.
“It comes at a time when Ghanaians have been grappling with the issue of journalistic professionalism.” Every journalistic award, on the other hand, represents a challenge to journalists.
“There are many awards, and some of the best journalists in the country do not participate,” Prof. Karikari, who is also a member of the Media Foundation for West Africa, explained.
At the awards ceremony, 22 organizations and individuals were recognized for their contributions and support to MTN Ghana over the past 25 years.
