MTN Group furthers financial inclusion

Driven to secure financial inclusion across its markets, MTN Group continues to grow the number of MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) users on its network, a trend that has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By the end of September 2020, nearly 42 million people were regularly transacting on MTN MoMo across 16 markets. This compares to 38 million active users at the end of the first half of 2020, and 35 million at the end of 2019 – ten years after MTN launched MoMo.

Initially designed to facilitate the transfer of cash between mobile users, MTN’s MoMo offering is now much broader. The group works with numerous partners to offer services including loans, insurance, remittances and MoMo Pay, enabling customers to store money in their mobile wallets with which they can then pay for goods or services at registered merchants.

Mobile money services have grown faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world. In 2020, the trend has quickened, and the value of transactions has increased, partly supported by MTN’s reduction in MoMo transaction fees in many operations to assist customers battling the impacts of the pandemic.

In the first half of 2020, for example, the value of MTN MoMo transactions was US$61,2 billion, and the group processed 11 752 MoMo transactions a minute across its markets, up 28% from 9 193 transactions a minute in 2019.

In Ghana,  there has been a steady growth in driving  financial inclusion through MoMo.  MoMo subscribers grew to a total of 11.66m  (RGS 90 days) with 1.8bn  transactions by end of September 2020. MTN MoMo implemented some measures in  March 2020 as part of efforts to support Government’s intervention to control the spread of the COVID-19 and also  minimize the risk posed by cash handling.  Some of the measures included the waiver on  transaction charges for on-net and off net transactions as well as the  revision of  limits on daily transactions and wallet balances. The intervention has since been extended to December 31 2020 to allow more people to experience the benefits of mobile financial services.

The group remains committed to leveraging its technology to enable a cashless Africa.

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses in Africa.

About financial inclusion

Financial inclusion means that people have access to affordable financial products and services that meet their needs and are delivered in a responsible and sustainable way. Not only does this facilitate daily life, help people plan, start businesses and expand them, it also helps people invest in education or health and manage risk, improving the overall quality of life.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Some fans clapped, others wept, as they filed past Maradona's coffin

Thousands of fans are paying their final respects to Argentine football legend Diego Maradona at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.

Three days of national mourning have begun in Argentina after the national hero died following a heart attack on Wednesday at the age of 60.

Some wept, others blew kisses and said prayers as they filed past the coffin being displayed at the Casa Rosada.

A million people are expected to visit his casket.

Maradona's coffin - draped in Argentina's national flag and football shift, bearing his trademark number 10 on the back - is expected to be on public display at the presidential palace until Thursday afternoon.

There were tense scenes when the Casa Rosada opened its doors, as some fans pushed and shoved against the barriers, which were lined with security forces. His family and former teammates took part in a private ceremony earlier in the day.

One of the greatest football players of all time, Maradona had a troubled personal life marked by cocaine and alcohol addiction. He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.

Local media said the preliminary results of an autopsy showed Maradona had suffered "acute heart failure". A spokesman told AFP news agency he would be laid to rest in a cemetery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where his parents were also buried.

The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager died at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires. The last person to see Maradona alive was his nephew Johnny Esposito, according to statements gathered by officials.

Maradona is survived by five children and his former wife, 58-year-old Claudia Villafane, who he split with in 2004 after 20 years of marriage.

Maradona, who played for clubs including Barcelona and Napoli, was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarter-finals.

To score the goal, Maradona used his hand to deflect the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, but the referee did not see it. It was one of the most controversial World Cup moments ever.

Former Tottenham midfielder Ossie Ardiles, who played alongside Maradona at the 1982 World Cup, said he was "a god" in Argentina, in Naples and all around the world.

Fans mourn 'eternal' giant

The death has triggered an outpouring of grief in Argentina and across the world. At 22:00 on Wednesday (01:00 GMT) - an hour chosen to match the number on his shirt - stadiums across Argentina switched on their floodlights to honour his memory.

Fans flocked to La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, where many were in tears. One fan of the star's former club had tears in his eyes as he explained how much Maradona meant to him.

"Maradona for me is the greatest thing that happened to me in life. I love him as much as my father and it's like my old man died," Cristian Montelli, 22, told Reuters news agency.

"If I die young, hopefully upstairs I can play ball and watch a Boca game with him."

On Wednesday, officials rushed to install cordons and other measures to try to limit the spread of coronavirus, as big crowds gathered on the Argentine capital's Plaza de Mayo after news of the death emerged.

Late into the night, a sea of people in Argentina shirts thronged the streets across the country to mourn Maradona's death, and celebrate his life.

Thousands of miles away in Italy, fans also gathered outside Napoli's San Paolo stadium, which was lit up in tribute to the man who scored 81 goals in 188 appearances for the club.

Fireworks erupted in the sky as those below, clad in Maradona shirts and even Maradona face masks, chanted and wept.

A minute's silence took place before Wednesday's Champions League matches and the same will happen before all other European fixtures this week.

An icon whose influence transcended Argentina

Maradona was not just a sportsman for Argentines, he was an icon, a political player and of course, a loveable rogue. There is deep sadness as people pay their respects to their superstar footballer.

But his influence goes beyond Argentina - South Americans are proud of their footballing heritage so this news has resonated across the region.

In neighbouring Brazil, where their man Pelé vied for the title of world's best footballer, Maradona's death was headline news - much of the rivalry between the two countries can be put down to the two players, such is the passion for the beautiful game here.

But rivalry was put aside with Pelé paying tribute to Maradona as a dear friend. "One day, I hope, we will have a kick about together in heaven," he said.

The footballing world pays tribute

His former Argentina teammate Ardiles said today's football superstars "could not even dream" of being admired as much as Maradona was.

"He will be remembered as a genius in football," he told the BBC. "You can see the extraordinary amount of interest that he generates."

When the news of Maradona's death broke, Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi led tributes, writing on social media: "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal."

Former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who was part of the England team beaten by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, said Maradona was "by some distance, the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time".

In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed "its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend", adding: "You will always be in our hearts."

By BBC

The MTN Ghana Foundation has commissioned a multi-purpose ICT library and robotics lab at Ebenezer Senior High School which will also serve the Dansoman community.

The Dansoman Community Library is the first Secondary School library in Ghana to have a modern integrated ICT Center and a Robotics lab. The robotics and ICT lab will be a learning resource center for training students and young people in robotics. The multipurpose facility was constructed at cost of GHC 770,000 and comprised of a 100-seater conventional library area, a 20-seater ICT center, a world class Robotics lab and washrooms.

Speaking at the commissioning, the CEO of MTN Ghana Selorm Adadevoh said “When the idea of a modern integrated ICT library and robotics lab in Dansoman was brought to us at MTN Foundation, I was personally very inspired by it.  We gladly accepted to embark on this project at the Ebenezer Senior High School because we understand the life changing opportunities such a facility would bring to the people of Dansoman”.

 “One of our core mandates is to improve the quality of life of people through appropriate and sustainable interventions in communities where MTN operates”, he added.

On his part, The MTN Foundation Board Chairman Prof. Franklyn Manu urged the management and beneficiaries to adopt good maintenance culture to preserve the facility. He said “Such a facility will require constant upkeep, maintenance, and replacement of to ensure its longevity”.

The special guest of honor Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Constituency commended MTN Ghana Foundation for supporting the school and community with such a modern facility. She said “I am excited about this project: It is clear from all the success our young people have chalked that they do not lack talents and ability to succeed. What our young people need, are the tools and the platforms to showcase what they have. When given the right tools and the right skills, our young people can compete and be the best in the world.”

The ceremony was attended by Mr Samuel Koranteng, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, Mrs Nabila Williams, a Board Member of MTN Ghana Foundation, Dr. Yaw Okraku-Yirenkyi, a Co-Founder of the Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation (GRAF),  Hon. George Cyril Bray, MCE of Ablekuma West Constituency, Mr. Hayford Siaw , Director of Ghana Library Authority, District Director of Education and the Headmistress of Ebenezer Secondary School.

Since the inception of the MTN Ghana Foundation in 2007, the Foundation has implemented over 150 major projects in areas of health, education and economic empowerment at a total cost of USD 15million. These projects are estimated to have impacted over 4 million people.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

The death of Argentine football great Diego Maradona prompted scenes of mourning around the world, with fans gathering to pay tribute to one of the greatest players of all time.

The World Cup winner, a national hero in his home country, died following a heart attack on Wednesday at the age of 60.

Three days of national mourning have begun in Argentina, where swarms of fans chanted Maradona's name shortly after his death was announced.

"I can't believe it," one fan, Francisco Salaverry, told the AFP news agency. "It's incredible. Everyone ends up being mortal. It feels like a bad dream."

Fans searching for a place to grieve gravitated towards the Obelisk landmark in the centre of Buenos Aires. Hundreds wore the famous blue-and-white national colours of Argentina.

Many of those who gathered were in tears. "Few times in my life have I felt the pain that invades me today," one lifelong fan, Mauricio Passadore, wrote on social media.

A match between Sport Club Internacional and Maradona's former club Boca Juniors was postponed on Wednesday.

And in the capital, "Gracias Diego" replaced train information on digital signs while fans in the suburbs sang football songs.

At the Diego Maradona stadium, home to the Argentinos Juniors club where he played as a child and later made his professional debut, fireworks were launched and music was played.

Here, fans of the club cheer Maradona's name outside the stadium.

Maradona was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarter-finals.

The iconic sporting moment saw England's goalkeeper rush to punch the ball clear, but Maradona jumped and used his hand to touch it into the empty net. The referee failed to spot the handball, triggering angry protests from the English players.

An image of that goal is depicted in murals both in Argentina and abroad, and artworks of the player quickly became focal points for fans to pay their respects.

This mural is in the Italian city of Naples, where Maradona scored 81 goals in 188 appearances and became a club legend.

His Italian fans also gathered outside Napoli's San Paolo stadium, where candles were lit and flags were placed around the entrance.

"Always in our hearts. Ciao Diego," the club wrote on Twitter.

Hundreds of fans gathered in the streets of the city's Spanish Quarters. "In Naples, he's a king," one woman told RaiNews24.

"Diego made our people dream, he redeemed Naples with his genius," the city's Mayor Luigi De Magistris said.

He also called for Napoli's stadium to be renamed after Maradona, who he described as "the greatest footballer of all time".

There were tributes outside Argentina and Italy, too.

A minute's silence took place before Wednesday's Champions League matches, but similar acts of remembrance were held in other countries and at all levels of the sport.

Here, youth players in the Indian city of Secunderabad hold their own minute's silence for Maradona.

The President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), Kwabena Yeboah is pleading with the government to allow fans access to stadia to watch games in the Ghana Premier League.

The new Ghana Premier League has so far been exciting with the only thing missing being the absence of fans in the stands when the games are going on.

Initially, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo announced that stadia will be allowed to be filled to 25% capacity prior to the start of the new football season.

However, in the days leading to the opening weekend of the Premier League, a statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports indicated that all matches will be played behind closed doors as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.

Speaking to Hot FM today, Kwabena Yeboah has joined in to support growing calls for fans to be allowed to watch their teams play from the various grounds.

“I am pleading the government and Covid-19 team to allow fans to the stadium to support their clubs and I believe the clubs and GFA will ensure all the Covid-19 protocols if they can allow 25% of fans to go to the stadia to support their clubs,” the SWAG president shared.

So far all clubs are following laid down protocols to ensure players and officials on Matchdays don’t go contrary to requirements from the GFA and the government.

ModernGhana

Ghana’s Emmanuel 'The Gameboy' Tagoe will meet Mason 'Rock Hard Mighty' Menard in a 10-round lightweight bout on Friday November 27 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, USA,

The fight has gained some attention and publicity as the lightweight division has become hot after the defeat of former champion Lomachenko by the new kid on the block Theofimo Lopez.

At the press conference ahead of the bout, Menard looked cool and easy going, but Tagoe said he will use the day to gain popularity in America and boxing fans will remember him.

He went of to predict a knock out within the first four rounds.

World Ranked Lightweight Emmanuel ‘Gameboy’ Tagoe, (31-1, 15 KOs) says the battle-tested veteran Mason Menard, (36-4, 25 KOs), of Rayne, Louisiana would be an easy ride and asked his fans to count another victory.

He is currently world ranked #5 by the WBO, #8 by the IBF and #9 by the WBC. The 31-year-old is remarkably undefeated since losing his pro debut in 2004 at the age of 15.

Tagoe is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and managed by Peter Kahn’s Fight Game Advisors along with Ghanaian soccer superstar, Asamoah ‘Baby Jet’ Gyan.

Said Lou DiBella, “Ghana’s Emmanuel “Gameboy” Tagoe is a legitimate top contender in the hot 135lb. division. I’m happy that he’s again getting an opportunity to prove it, against hard-hitting Mason Menard, on Friday night.”

“Emmanuel is in the best shape of his life,” said Peter Kahn. A lot of people see him rated high in the world ratings, but haven't had the opportunity to see him fight. He is more than ready for his fight this week. He had a full training camp and is ready to shine on November 27.”

Tagoe is trained by the renowned Javiel Centeno, proprietor of the Sweatbox Gym in Davie, FL. “After having to go back home to Ghana when his fight was cancelled back in March due to COVID-19, I was concerned that when he was able to get back into camp he would be out of shape.  I was wrong. He showed up in shape and we hit the ground running without skipping a beat.  Camp has gone extremely well and the entire Sweatbox team of boxers are looking forward to seeing him display his exciting, fan friendly boxing style live on DAZN.”

The fight night will begin come on Friday, November 27 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. (That's around 1 to 2 am Saturday morning in Accra.)

The ten-round clash is a featured bout on the undercard of the Super-Middleweight grudge match between Daniel Jacobs and Gabriel Rosado presented by Matchroom Boxing at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The news of the sudden death of world football and Argentine legend Diego Armando Maradona has taken social media particularly Facebook and micro-blogging site Twitter by surprise.

The 1986 FIFA World Cup hero suffered a cardiac arrest at a home in Tigre, Argentina according to multiple reports by the Argentine media and CNN.

Maradona had been recuperating from the removal of a blood clot on the brain.

Born in the Villa Fiorito area on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Maradona made his professional football debut while still aged 15 with Argentinos Juniors in 1976 and rose from there to become a world football legend.

Ghanaians on social media upon hearing the news of Diego’s death have used the platform to mourn him and send their message of condolences.

Others have also decided to celebrate “The God of Naples” by reliving memories of him.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

I am sad about Diego Maradona death. He was a legend in football, one of the greatest of all time  in terms raw talents, however Messi is on top than Maradona. I’ts just that he Lionel Messi have not  won a FIFA World  Cup , and Maradona  has won world cup for Argentina in 1986.

But to me my best player of all time is Edson Arantes do Nascimento world PELE. He is my greatest player of all time.

My top 3 best players of all time will be .

WORLD PELE, LIONEL MESSI AND DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA

#KWABENA Yeboah The Writer

Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest, according to reports in his native Argentina.

The football legend had a heart attack at his home just two weeks after leaving hospital where he underwent surgery on a blot clot in his brain. 

Maradona, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1986, the pinnacle of an illustrious career. 

He played club football for Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona among others and was adored by millions for his brilliant skills. 

Maradona was responsible for the infamous 'Hand of God' that eliminated England from the 1986 tournament.  

More to follow.  

Acting captain of the Black Princesses (female U-20), Mukarama Abdulai says it’s a delight to play against Morocco in Accra.

Ghana will on Thursday, November 26, play host to Morocco in the first of two test games at the Accra Sports stadium at 10:30am.

The game is part of the team’s preparation for the 2021 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Princesses who lost 3-2 to the Moroccans in a friendly in March, have been presented with an opportunity to avenge that defeat in Accra.

‘’First, I would like to thank the FA for the opportunity and I believe it’s good for we the players especially when there are no qualifiers. We are happy about hosting the Moroccans in Ghana. We played them away before and they are now here in Ghana. The entire team is happy about it and we hope to have a good game’’. Mukarama said

The games are slated for Accra at 10:30am on Thursday, November 26 and Monday November 30, 2020 respectively.

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