Beneficiaries of the ICT Business Incubation project launched in June 2016 by MTN Ghana Foundation in partnership with Ghana Multimedia Incubation Center (GMIC), continue to make very positive strides. The project, which is aimed at supporting incubates to develop products and services for commercialization, is focused on commercialization of new technologies, creation of jobs and wealth, improving livelihoods and strengthening local and national economies while encouraging young people with good business ideas to start their own businesses.
Six months after inception, the project is living up to its expectation. Eight start-ups that were selected for initial incubation are demonstrating tremendous progress. One of the start-ups, Adroit 360, a software development and website designer, has developed a secured messaging app for businesses called Mecrypt, which is set to transform business messaging in Ghana.
Other incubates include Andcorp Ghana, which has developed an interactive e-learning application with unique social features and educational and corporate training content; CliQafrica, which has signed major digital communication contracts with select banks and airline companies; and Irys K.O, which has introduced an innovative mobile and computer application with a business outlook to develop and induce innovative ways of cargo consolidation in the global freight industry.
MINT, another incubate, makes use of recycled materials to build robots, has partnered with schools to introduce robotics curriculum and established robotics and STEM labs. Finally, Bisa Health is a mobile app which has increased access to mobile health care by allowing smartphone users to interact with about 30 volunteer medical practitioners on a mobile platform.
Commenting on MTN’s partnership with GMIC, Mrs Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, said she was happy MTN’s efforts to build a new crop of entrepreneurs and equip them with specialized skills is yielding positive results. “Our overriding objective for this partnership is to provide young entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and resources to build successful and financially viable businesses.”
“The project is to also help digitize the Ghanaian economy, while helping alleviate the rate of unemployment in the country,” she said.
The MTN ICT business incubation projects is providing employment for the youth. Apart from the incubates who are directly involved in the project and have secured for themselves viable means of employment, National Service Personnel are also benefiting from the project.
In 2017, the project aims to build an efficient, effective, consistent and productive business incubator process to support many more businesses.
The Ghana Multimedia Incubation Center (GMIC) is a project under the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). GMIC provides Business Incubation/ICT Entrepreneurship Development and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Services in Ghana.
MTN Ghana in January 2014 signed an agreement with the Ministry of Communications to support an ICT Business Incubation Project initially aimed at supporting 10 start –ups companies. This project support falls under the economic empowerment portfolio of the MTN Ghana Foundation.
Through the MTN Ghana Foundation, MTN has invested more than GH¢ 32.2 million in over 140 major projects which are directly impacting lives of millions of Ghanaians.
