Mr David Wang, Director of the Board and Chairman of the ICT Infrastructure Managing Board at Huawei, says a thriving digital economy needs solid digital infrastructure, especially ubiquitous connectivity.

He said the digital economy would grow faster when governments and industries accelerated their own digital and intelligent transformation.

Mr Wang was speaking at the Mobile World Conference (MWC) Barcelona 2025, when Huawei hosted the Digital Economy Development Forum.

The MWC Barcelona 2025 opened on March 3 and would end on March 6, 2025 on the theme: “Converge. Connect. Create.”

The Forum was on the theme: “From Insight to Impact for a Thriving Digital Economy.”

The Forum was attended by policy makers from multiple countries, heads of international industry associations, consulting institution experts, and industry leaders.

He said the future-oriented industry policy would bring vitality to the digital economy.

“More digital talent needs to be trained to overcome the growing global talent shortage plaguing the digital and intelligent sectors,” he said.

Mr Wang said open and collaborative industry ecosystems make digital economies more resilient. 

He said this was because ecosystems create a space for industry players around the world to collaborate and innovate. This space lets them build on each other’s strengths.

“A thriving digital economy needs a wide array of digital technologies,” he added.

He said no single country or company could do it all alone and that was why Huawei had been a longtime supporter of cross-region collaboration and robust industry ecosystems.

He said the digital economy had also become a major driver of global economic growth, and more than 170 countries have released dedicated national strategies on digital development.

“Digitalization remains uneven between various regions, but many report seeing some common challenges,” he said.

Mr Jeffrey Zhou, ICT Marketing President of Huawei, affirmed that “Huawei looks forward to working with industry partners to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. 

He said from insight to impact, they would create a thriving digital economy.

He said more on Huawei’s research into the global digital economy could be found in the Global Digitalization Index that the company released in 2024. 

This index is a tool that countries can use to assess the maturity of their own ICT industries. 

It also provides recommendations for digital economy development.

Source: GNA

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MTN Group and Ghana have signed an agreement to work together to support the government’s flagship ‘One Million Coders Programme.’ 

It is to equip young Ghanaians with artificial intelligence, coding and digital skills to drive the country’s digital transformation.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation and Mr Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and CEO signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to that effect.

The MoU is to explore areas for collaboration on what tthe Minister called the flagship initiative of the new administration of President John Mahama.

The Minister said, “We engaged with the MTN Group and expressed our desire for a partnership that will lead to fuel the capacity of young Ghanaians in the area of artificial intelligence, digital technology, data governance and cybersecurity.”

He said they have recognised that, as part of its 25th anniversary, MTN (Ghana) was making significant investments in Ghana.

He said the MTN building, donated to the government, would become one of the centres for excellence for artificial intelligence and software development. 

“We are committed to backing MTN in this endeavour,” he said.

Mr Mupita thanked the Minister and his delegation for two days of constructive engagements and for choosing MTN as a trusted partner. 

“We are very focused on understanding the strategy Ghana has and how we as MTN Group and MTN Ghana can support it,” he said.

He also lauded the government for its commitment in terms of creating an enabling environment for MTN to carry on the work they were doing, very humbly though, to support the building out of the digital ecosystem that would be a catalyst for growth and expansion and meet the socioeconomic objectives of the Ghanaian government.

Mr Mupita said given that around 3,000 languages were spoken across Africa, it was incumbent on Africans to ensure that they worked on their own large language models to develop the solutions made possible through generative AI. 

“We must develop our own talent on the African continent; we must develop our own software engineers and we must be doing more around coding to enable us to all be future fit,” he said.

Mr Ebenezer Asante, MTN Group Senior Vice President for Markets, said MTN was delighted to be part of the initiative, which was closely aligned to MTN’s strategic intent. 

“Between MTN and Ghana we will partner using common projects to advance the cause of African development,” he said.

The MoU follows the introduction in 2023 of the MTN Skills Academy in multiple MTN operating countries, including Ghana. 

The MTN Skills Academy aims to provide access to digital and financial skills training across the continent. The Academy provides a range of courses, including coding, web development, digital marketing and data analytics, with the aim of ensuring 60 per cent of youth and adults have at least basic proficiency in sustainable digital skills by the end of 2025.

Source: GNA

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Students of Keta Senior High Technical School (Ketasco) have been urged to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a bridge to connect the past to the future for better development and quality education delivery.

The AI’s is said to have capabilities in data processing and machine learning that created dynamic, interactive models, digital resources as well as personalised learning experiences.

Dr Wilberforce Sefakor Dzisah, Senior Lecturer and Head of Department for Liberal Arts and Communication Studies in the School of Liberal Arts and Social Science at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and an old student of Ketasco, in a public lecture delivered to mark this year’s 72nd anniversary of Ketasco, said that technology with AI was a new generational tool for national development.

“With the growing demand for technical, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, AI powered tools can help students develop competencies in fields such as coding, data science whilst the tools often include interactive simulation, virtual assistant among others,” he said.

Dr Dzisah said that by incorporating AI into the learning curriculum, students would be able to gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies and improve their preparedness for the needed labour market.

He said that on the part of teachers, AI could help them automate grading system and provide immediate detailed feedbacks to enable them to focus more on interactive teaching with less on administrative duties.

“Our students can meet the challenges of history by drawing on the heroic struggles and successes chalked by their forebears, embracing the present and break new barriers by confronting the future with the utmost optimism and hope.”

He said AI had more capacities if properly harnessed to help students meet the challenges of history by navigating the complexities to promote quality education and produce the “crème de la crème for national development.”

Dr Dzisah believed that Ketasco could meet the challenges of history by incorporating AI into educational curriculum whilst pivoting it to resolve human foibles, militating against quality education.

He said that intersecting of AI in education represented a unique opportunity for addressing long-standing challenges and create a world where knowledge was not only widely available but also empowering.

He further urged students to be mindful in deciding on how best to use AI profitably and not just for advancement of technology but also to advance humanity.

He said that, “as we are told, AI has been contextualised as the simulation of human intelligence in machine, programmed to think, learn and solve problems like human and has become part of educational mix but must be control and use well.”

He charged all past and present students to continue supporting the school for more success and development through quality education that would uplift Ketasco to be the light of Africa.

Some students who GNA interacted with expressed gratitude about the public lecture and promised to make good use of lessons that were inculcated in them for a successful and brighter future.

The public lecture which was graced by both present and past students was held on Friday February 21 at the Ketasco park ahead of the main durbar on the theme:”Ketasco as an anchor:Meeting the challenges of history through Artificial Intelligence and Quality Education.

The 72nd anniversary was powered by 1975, 1985,1995,2000,2005,2015 year groups.

Source: GNA

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is starting to map its air corridor and regulatory framework development for piloted and autonomous air taxis and cargo drones.

A press release copied to Ghana Business News, says the initiative marks a major leap forward in the nation’s mission to lead the future of mobility.

“Through a strategic partnership between the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Advanced Technology Research Council entities—Technology Innovation Institute and ASPIRE—the UAE is on track to reshape the way people and goods move through urban spaces,” the release said.

According to the release, the aerial corridors and regulations will be defined within the next 20 months, noting that the effort demonstrates the UAE’s unwavering commitment to deploying safe, advanced, sustainable transportation solutions that will not only ease congestion but also set a global benchmark for future urban mobility systems.

It added that the routes will connect key international airports and iconic places in the UAE, extending further to ensure seamless integration of piloted and autonomous air taxis and cargo drones across the nation’s urban landscapes.

By Emmanuel K Dogbevi

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The MTN Foundation Ghana has organized a blood donation exercise drawing citizens to stock the blood bank of major regional hospitals across the country.   

The event which was in partnership with the National Blood Service (NBS), 37 military hospitals and Greater Accra Hospital (Ridge Hospital), on  the theme “Save a Life”, aims at raising awareness about the significance of blood donation, its impact in Ghana and to collect 6,100 units of blood from all locations.  

Mr Kofi Aware, General Manger Legal and Regulatory, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the “Safe a Life” was an initiative of MTN Ghana Foundation.  

He explained that since the inception in 2011 “Save a Life” initiative, had responded to the NBS’s call to action, helping to restock the blood bank and provide a lifeline to those in need.  

According to him, “reports in Ghana shows that, voluntary blood donation has progressed in recent years, yet again there has been significant challenges that persist in meeting the nation’s transfusion needs.”  

“In 2022, Ghana collected approximately 179,765 units of blood with 45,463 units and these figures fall short of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) transfusion requirement.,” he added.  

He said, the WHO recommended minimum of 10 units per 1,000 populace which was essential to meet basic transfusion requirement, adding that Ghana’s blood collection index (BCI) was 5.8 per 1,000 populace in 2022 which indicated a substantial gap between supply and demand.  

Dr Shirley Owusu Ofori, Chief Executive Officer, National Blood Service (NBS) extended gratitude to MTN Ghana Foundation and its partners for such an initiative saying it would go a long way to save lives in the country.  

She therefore encouraged Ghanaians to exhibit the practice of donating blood stating that it was the only ways in supporting families and loved ones who need transfusions to manage their health conditions.  

Source: GNA  

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Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, has inaugurated a 23-member Inter-Agency Data Pricing Committee in Accra.

The committee members were drawn from stakeholders in the digital spaces to develop a roadmap that would lead to a reduction in the cost of data. 

The Committee is expected to finalise the roadmap report and submit it to the Minister on March 6, 2025.

The initiative aims to assess prevailing pricing models and propose recommendations for competitive and affordable data services that drive digital inclusion, economic growth, and national development.

The Minister said the establishment of the Committee underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency in data pricing mechanisms and bridging the digital divide.

“The players in the industry are not Chancellors and are businessmen, but like I have always said, my fidelity is first and foremost to the Ghanaian people before any other consideration.

“On the basis of that, we are going to put up this technical committee to have a conversation around the pricing of data.

 The focus of the committee is not for you to tell the ministry why data is priced at its current price point,” he said.

He said he was aware that in January 2024, one of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) wrote to the National Communication Authority proposing a 10 per cent drop.

“The ministry at the time declined a response to the regulator, and so literally for one year, that offer of a 10 per cent reduction from that MNO and a corresponding 11 per cent increase in value offerings has been pending,” he said.

Mr George said the government was committed to ensuring value for money, adding that “the best value and offering for the Ghanaian people is our primary goal.”

He said, “Instead of us having one proposal from one MNO on one bundle offering, I want a holistic review of all the bundle offerings across all the networks.”

Mr George said there were many young Ghanaians today who, if given cheaper, affordable data, would help them work and take gig jobs outside the shores of the country, depending on data.

“This is a call to national service, a call to national duty, both for the Committee members and as players in the industry,” he said.

Mr Ken Ashigbey, the Chef Executive, Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, welcomed the initiative and indicated that it was the best way to ensure value for money.

He called for a concerted effort to address the issue of data pricing, stressing the things associated with data cost were multifaceted.

Mr Ashigbey pledged to work towards meeting the terms of reference for the committee, especially the deadline.

Mr Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh, President, National Union of Ghana Students, commended the Minister for bringing the student Union into the committee.

He said most students complained about the cost of data, especially during their online sessions, research, and other things, and he was confident of ensuring fair data pricing for all.

Source: GNA

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A German Information Technology (IT) outsourcing company, CodeRaccoon, is offering talented Ghanaian IT professionals remote work opportunities.

Eleven software developers have already been recruited as the company plans to expand its operations locally.

The company outlined its vision and objectives at an interactive session in Accra, Tuesday.

Mr Jorn Jalsinger, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CodeRaccoon, noted that the demand for IT professionals exceeded supply, hence the move to absorb local talents.

The company’s footprint in Ghana was a proof that “talent is not confined by location,” as globalisation and increasing population provided more avenues for collaboration, he said.

“Germany, like many other countries, faces a challenge…The demand for IT professionals far exceeds the supply…,” Mr Jalsinger said.

“At the same time, here in Ghana, we see a young, dynamic generation ready to prove itself – full of ideas, full of ambition, full of talent. Yet, too often, opportunities are limited…We want to change that!”

He described CodeRaccoon as “a bridge” between Ghana and Germany, and a link between “talented developers and companies searching for the best solutions.”

“We are not just creating jobs – we are building careers, opportunities, and long-lasting partnerships.”

The CEO said Africa and Ghana needed to be a part the “digital revolution,” which seemed to have been dominated by the Global North.

“Our vision is clear: We want to be a company that doesn’t just write code but also writes history. A history of success, growth, and mutual respect,” he emphasised.

The recruits would be provided the requisite training as the company continued to work with local partners to argument the staff strength.

“After six months, we decide if this is a working model or we would have to adjust…if we can increase then we can scale up to 40 resources, another test period of one year and we would like to increase to 500 within three to five years,” he explained.

Dr Michael Blank, the Head of Delegation, German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, commended the move and urged young people to take advantage of the opportunity.

“The young Ghanaians who have been employed here don’t have to leave the country…sometimes people prefer to stay in their home countries…If you are in the IT sector, it does make a difference…and I think CodeRaccoon is a good business model,” he said.

He added that the German business community in Ghana would continue to connect professionals and create opportunities for citizens.

Mr Daniel Opare Addo and David Asiamah, employees of the CodeRaccoon, shared their excitement about the opportunity, indicating that they look forward to growing with the company.

Source: GNA

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President of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, on Monday officially opened the final phase of the General Group Training on the new Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) at the Zuma Resorts, Niger state, Nigeria.

This comprehensive session for Judges, Head Case Managers, Case Managers, and other key staff is a critical step towards preparing for the official Go-Live of the system, scheduled for April 2025.

“This marks the final session in a series of training programs designed to equip all stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and to validate all system modifications, ensuring that the ECMS workflow aligns fully with the Court’s relevant texts and regulations,” the President stated. 

He emphasised the significance of this session, which followed a successful Quality Assurance Workshop that allowed stakeholders to review the ECMS workflow, incorporate feedback from previous training sessions held in Lomé, Accra, and Praia, propose updates, and ensure compliance with the Court legal framework, including the Instructions to the Chief Registrar and the Practice Directions of 2012, 2020, and the newly signed 2025 edition.

During the three-day training, participants will engage in practical sessions, including system walkthroughs, workflow simulations, and role-specific training, covering all aspects of electronic case management, from e-filing a case to delivering a final decision.

“We are on the verge of a major milestone for the ECOWAS Court of Justice,” Justice Gonçalves remarked. He added that, “The Go-Live of the ECMS is scheduled for the first week of April 2025, but before that, several critical prerequisites must be completed including finalising and validating all workflows and system updates to guarantee operational readiness. I am confident that, with our collective effort, we will meet the deadline.” 

The President also highlighted several preparatory steps before the Go-Live, including the deployment of technical tools, finalising user manuals, establishing a Help Desk, and ensuring robust security measures. A key focus will be on ensuring that all stakeholders are fully prepared to use the system from day one.

He urged the Court’s IT Unit to take full ownership of the transition, ensuring smooth implementation and long-term sustainability of the ECMS, particularly in the face of increasing resource constraints.

He also called for active participation from the participants to ensure the successful adoption of the new system. 

This training session marks a pivotal moment in the ECOWAS Court of Justice’s ongoing modernisation efforts and depicts the Court’s commitment to enhance justice across the region.

With the collaborative effort of all stakeholders, the Court is poised to enhance its operational efficiency and ensure greater accessibility and transparency in case management.

Source: GNA

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Madam Antoinette Kwofie, the Chief Finance Officer of MTN Ghana, has called for the unification of regulations across Africa to facilitate the flow of capital into infrastructure development on the continent.

Participating in a panel discussion at the 2025 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) on the topic, “Filling the Funding Gap for Infrastructure”, Madam Kwofie underscored the importance of collaboration among African nations in achieving sustainable growth.

She said as Africans, “we need to start thinking as one unit. Success can be achieved by playing as a team. We need to start thinking about how we can collaborate across the different countries we have on the continent and operate seamlessly as one unit. Bring our ideas and funds together and fund projects across the continent.”

She emphasized the need to move away from fragmented economic strategies and instead work towards a common goal, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive investment and trade.

“We need to stop thinking of 54 different countries. We need to operationalize AfCFTA, we need to harmonize regulations, we need to remove trade barriers, we need to create an incentive for Africa to invest in Africa,” she added.

Madam Kwofie also highlighted the crucial role of human capital in Africa’s transformation, stressing the need for investment in skills that will propel technological advancement on the continent.

“Human capital is one of the things we need to get right if we want to achieve transformation on the continent. Investing in human capital, not just for the technical skills but for the technological skills amongst others,” she said.

She said Africa had immense talent yet continues to rely on external technological solutions.

According to her, it was time to harness local expertise to develop solutions tailored to the continent’s needs.

“We tend to buy technology from the West when we have so much talent on the continent. MTN has a group of software developers, and they are all Africans developing technology for Africa’s future. It is possible,” she added.

She said MTN Ghana remained committed to supporting initiatives that fostered economic growth, digital transformation, and infrastructure development in Africa.

Madam Kwofie said MTN would continue to champion digital innovation and investments that contribute to a prosperous and interconnected Africa.

The Africa Prosperity Dialogues is organised by the Africa Prosperity Network and is aimed at achieving deeper economic integration between African states in outlining its industrialisation priorities.

Among the topics under discussion were the policies that will ensure the successful implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event brought together many Government and business leaders including Vice President Ghana, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson, APN Advisory Counsel and Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana.

Others are Gwen Mwaba, Managing Director, Afreximbank and Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Senior Vice President, AfDB among other key stakeholders and partners.

Source: GNA

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President John Dramani Mahama has advocated the promotion of Fintech and e-commerce to facilitate trade and economic participation.

Fintech is a term that describes the use of technology to provide financial services and products.

He also urged African nations to invest in research and development to support their homegrown innovations.

President Mahama said this on Saturday in his address at the Presidential Session of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2025 in Accra.

He said the Fourth Industrial Revolution presented a golden opportunity for Africa to leapfrog traditional development models.

“We don’t need to go back to inventing the wheel. Digital transformation can drive financial inclusion. It can improve public service delivery and create new opportunities for all our people,” he said.

He called for the expansion of internet access and digital infrastructure to bridge the digital divide on the African continent.

President Mahama said technology indeed, had the power to make Africa more competitive if African leaders embraced it strategically.

President Mahama reiterated that prosperity could not be achieved without good governance, transparency, and accountability.

President Mahama said investors and businesses would thrive where there was stability, predictable policies, and the rule of law.

“Our youth are getting tired and frustrated at the lack of opportunity for realizing their dreams and aspirations,” he stated.

“Our decision to embrace democratic governance was supposed to be accompanied by a dividend that will lead to improvement in the lives of our people and prosperity for all.”

President Mahama noted that unfortunately, progress in this regard had been sluggish and largely intangible.

“If we are to maintain the faith and trust of our citizens in democratic and constitutional governance, we must accelerate our rates of economic growth, expand investments, and provide employment opportunities for our young people,” he said.

“As leaders, therefore, we must reaffirm our commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.”

He lauded Africa Prosperity Network for the successful organization of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues.

He said Ghana was proud to be the home of this important dialogue series and it would continue to enjoy his utmost support to make subsequent summits even greater.

President Mahama said the conference was a testament to their collective commitment to unlocking Africa’s full potential and ensuring that the African continent takes its rightful place in the global economic system.

The Africa Prosperity Network, a non-profit organization is the vehicle that runs the Africa Prosperity Dialogues, an initiative committed to creating the platforms for partnerships among political and business leaders, civil society and academia in Africa.

The Africa Prosperity Network is a non-profit organisation founded with the objective of advancing the vision of ‘The Africa We Want’ as outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, with particular focus on promoting Africa’s prosperity and economic integration.

Other African leaders, who participated in the Presidential Session of the African Prosperity Dialogues 2025 were President Faure Gnassigbe of Togo and President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros.

Source: GNA

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