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SCANCOM PLC (MTN GHANA) ANNOUNCES BOARD CHANGES

MR. KWASI ABEASI AND MR. MODUPE KADRI Scancom Plc. (MTN Ghana) wishes to announce that Mr. Kwasi Abeasi and Mr. Modupe Kadri will step down from the Board of the Company effective March 1, 2021. Mr. Kwasi Abeasi joined the Board of MTN Ghana in 2011, as an Independent Non-Executive Director, bringing a wealth of experience to the Board over his 10-year period of service. Mr. Modupe Kadri joined MTN Ghana as Chief Financial Officer in 2014 and was appointed Executive Director in 2016, a position he held until February 2020 when he became a Non-Executive Director of the Company. The Board of Directors of MTN Ghana and its subsidiaries would like to take this opportunity to express their gratitude to Mr. Abeasi and Mr. Kadri for their sterling service and dedication to the Company, and for their impressive performance on the Board. We wish them every success in all their future endeavors. APPOINTMENT OF FOUR (4) INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO SCANCOM PLC. (MTN GHANA) BOARD Scancom Plc. (MTN Ghana), in line with its aim of increasing skills and diversity, is pleased to announce the appointment of the following Independent Non-Executive Directors (INEDs), effective 1 March 2021: Felix Addo NanaAma Botchway Kofi Dadzie Rosie Ebe-Arthur 2.1 Mr. Felix Addo Mr. Felix Addo is a Member of the Ghana Institute of Chartered Accountants with over 30 years’ experience. He served as a Partner at PwC over an 18-year period across a wide range of engagements in both developed and emerging markets, including transactions, insolvencies and turnarounds, financial and forensic audits and various projects in both the private and public sectors. He has since developed a portfolio of board roles in the consumer, financial services and the oil and gas sectors. He currently serves on the boards of various organizations including Guinness Ghana Breweries (Chairman), Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (President), as well as various for profit and non-profit organisations. 2.2 Nana Ama Botchway Ms. Nana Ama Botchway is the founder and managing partner of N. Dowuona & Company, a leading corporate and commercial law firm in Ghana. Her main areas of practice are mergers and acquisitions, energy and infrastructure. Ms. Botchway regularly advises local and global companies on cross border mergers, acquisitions, energy and infrastructure projects. She began her career in New York where she worked as a lawyer at two leading global law firms, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Cooley, and as an audit accountant at Deloitte Touche Tomahtsu. Ms. Botchway is a graduate of Princeton University, New York University’s Stern School of Business and Columbia University School of Law. She brings a wealth of experience to MTN Ghana having served as a Non-Executive Director on a number of boards, including Ghana Airports Company Ltd, the Ghana Petroleum Sovereign Wealth Funds, GHL Bank Ltd, where she chaired the Remuneration Committee, and Brainworks Capital. 2.3 Mr. Kofi Dadzie Mr. Dadzie is an experienced digital entrepreneur who has built innovative products and services and taken these to market successfully, servicing customers across multiple geographies and covering over 80 languages. Mr. Dadzie, who is one of the pioneers of Rancard Solutions Ltd, started as the Chief Software Architect and rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer. He currently serves as a non-executive director of Rancard Solutions Holdings and subsidiaries. Inspired through leadership seminars in the Aspen Institute, he recently consulted for and joined the Mastercard Foundation with the aim of empowering young African women and men to harness the digital economy. Mr. Dadzie also serves as a director of IC Asset Managers and is a member of the governing board of Genius Hive Music Academy. 2.4 Rosie Ebe-Arthur Ms. Rosie Ebe-Arthur is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and brings along with her a plethora of experience from the United Kingdom and Africa. Ms. Ebe-Arthur was previously employed by Ernst & Young as Associate Director of People Services, Africa Projects, South Africa with responsibility for Sub Saharan Africa. Ms. Ebe-Arthur then served at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated as Group Human Resources Business Partner for Domestic Bank working across 33 countries. She then moved to Standard Chartered Bank rising to Head of Human Resources, West Africa with responsibility for Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroun, Gambia and Sierra Leone. Ms. Ebe-Arthur is currently the Group Head, Human Capital Management and Development for First Bank Nigeria and Subsidiaries and is accountable for setting the People Strategy across the Banks footprint in Africa, United Kingdom and the representative offices in France and China. Commenting on the appointments, the CEO of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh said, “We are very excited to welcome very accomplished, diverse, professionals to the MTN Ghana Board. As a Company that is transitioning into a full digital operator, we are happy to have them join us accelerate the process of giving our valued Customers a distinct digital experience, whilst driving towards our 2023 ambition of becoming a digital operator”. Commenting on the Board changes, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MTN Ghana, Dr. Ishmael Yamson, expressed his profound gratitude to Mr. Abeasi and Mr. Kadri for their dedication, sacrifices and excellent performance, and for contributing immensely to the governance and oversight of the Company. In welcoming the new members to the Board, Dr. Ishmael Yamson indicated that onboarding these outstanding individuals with diverse skills and professions, should enhance and strengthen the performance of the oversight role of the Board. The Board of Directors of MTN Ghana and its subsidiaries would like to take this opportunity to welcome on board the new Independent Non-Executive Directors, to the Scancom Plc. Board, and to wish them every success in the discharge of their duties. The Independent Non-Executive Directors shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, where they shall be eligible for re-election by the Shareholders of Scancom Plc. SIGNED Pala Asiedu Ofori (Mrs.) Company Secretary Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Business

MTN records GH¢1.3bn profit; optimistic of resolving SMP impasse with government

Mobile telecommunication leader, MTN Ghana recorded a profit of GH¢1.3 billion last year, about 38.4% year-on-year growth. According to its 2020 Financial Statement, total revenue was however GH¢6 billion, 16.4% increase over that of 2019. To this end, the board of the company is declaring an interim dividend of GH¢0.03 per share after reviewing the company’s first quarter results. After reviewing the full year performance of the company, the board also recommended a final dividend of GH¢0.05 per share, bringing the total dividend for the year 2020 to GH¢0.08 per share. This represents 70.5% of profit after tax and a 33.3% increase in dividend per share over those paid for 2019. MTN Ghana subscribers also increased by 23.4% to 24.4 million whilst active data subscribers increased by 32.4% to 10.8 million. Active Mobile Money (MoMo) users also increased by 16.3% to 10.6 million. The company said this was the result of various promotions in the year, increased person-to-person transactional activity and the offer of more advanced services such as retail merchant payments and international remittances. Digital revenue however declined by 6.2% year-on-year. During the period, MTN Ghana said it made some enhancements in its video and gaming offerings resulting in a 328% surge in the number of active subscribers* and increased adoption of its MyMTN and ayoba messaging apps. Regulatory updates on SMP, localisation and licences On the regulatory front, MTN Ghana said it continues to maintain high ethical standards and commitment to regulatory obligations. “We also remain focused on providing the enabling technology to support Ghana’s digital economy. In this context, MTN Ghana undertakes constructive engagements with regulatory stakeholders at all times on issues related to policy and regulatory initiatives.” On the issue of the significant market power (SMP) declaration, and per the update in its third quarter results release, on 13 October 2020, MTN Ghana withdrew its application filed at the Supreme Court following a series of engagements with the regulator and other key stakeholders to resolve the issue in an amicable manner. From October 2020, however, MTN Ghana, implemented the National Communication Authority’s directive to apply a 30% asymmetrical interconnect rate for two years. Importantly, engagements and discussions with relevant stakeholders continued, after they were briefly suspended leading up to the national elections in December 2020, stressing “and we are optimistic that these discussions will result in a positive outcome for MTN Ghana and the long-term sustainability of the industry.” “We remain grateful to the NCA, the Ministry of Communications and key stakeholders for their openness and commitment to engage with the view to resolve the issues amicably.” Covid-19 impact The company said economic and business performance in 2020 was influenced by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic with devastating impact across the globe. “The impact of the pandemic has been felt by everyone and many of us have loved ones who have been affected by COVID-19. MTN Ghana and our employees have also been impacted by COVID-19 despite our best efforts in ensuring the safety of our people.” It expressed gratitude to all frontline workers, including its own front-liners who bravely served its cherished customers. As such, the MTN Ghana Foundation donated GH¢5 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essentials to the government’s COVID-19 Trust Fund for onward distribution to frontline medical workers. MTN records GH¢1.3bn profit; Optimistic of resolving SMP impasse with government Mobile telecommunication leader, MTN Ghana recorded a profit of GH¢1.3 billion last year, about 38.4% year-on-year growth. According to its 2020 Financial Statement, total revenue was however GH¢6 billion, 16.4% increase over that of 2019. To this end, the board of the company Board declared an interim dividend of GH¢0.03 per share after reviewing the company’s first quarter results. After reviewing the full year performance of the company, the board also recommended a final dividend of GH¢0.05 per share, bringing the total dividend for the 2020 year to GH¢0.08 per share. This represents 70.5% of profit after tax and a 33.3% increase in dividend per share over those paid for 2019. MTN Ghana subscribers also increased by 23.4% to 24.4 million whilst active data subscribers increased by 32.4% to 10.8 million. Active Mobile Money (MoMo) users also increased by 16.3% to 10.6 million. The company said this was the result of various promotions in the year, increased person-to-person transactional activity and the offer of more advanced services such as retail merchant payments and international remittances. Digital revenue however declined by 6.2% year-on-year. During the period, MTN Ghana said it made some enhancements in its video and gaming offerings resulting in a 328% surge in the number of active subscribers* and increased adoption of its MyMTN and ayoba messaging apps. Regulatory updates on SMP, localisation and licences On the regulatory front, MTN Ghana said it continues to maintain high ethical standards and commitment to regulatory obligations. “We also remain focused on providing the enabling technology to support Ghana’s digital economy. In this context, MTN Ghana undertakes constructive engagements with regulatory stakeholders at all times on issues related to policy and regulatory initiatives.” On the issue of the significant market power (SMP) declaration, and per the update in its third quarter results release, on 13 October 2020, MTN Ghana withdrew its application filed at the Supreme Court following a series of engagements with the regulator and other key stakeholders to resolve the issue in an amicable manner. From October 2020, however, MTN Ghana, implemented the National Communication Authority’s directive to apply a 30% asymmetrical interconnect rate for two years. Importantly, engagements and discussions with relevant stakeholders continued, after they were briefly suspended leading up to the national elections in December 2020, stressing “and we are optimistic that these discussions will result in a positive outcome for MTN Ghana and the long-term sustainability of the industry.” “We remain grateful to the NCA, the Ministry of Communications and key stakeholders for their openness and commitment to engage with the view to resolve the issues amicably.” Covid-19 impact The company said economic and

Opinion

Mahama not being given fair hearing – Sammy Gyamfi

National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi has said that the petitioner in the ongoing election petition hearing, Mr John Mahama is not being given a fair hearing by the court. Addressing the media after court proceedings on Monday February 22, Mr Gyamfi said “The bottom line is that the petitioner is worried that the court, in deciding these applications are not applying statutes that had been passed by our parliament, statutes that the court has been applying in other cases and we think that the petitioner is being denied a fair hearing and it is important to pursue these issues to the logical conclusions.” During proceedings on Monday, the Supreme Court of Ghana by a unanimous decision dismissed a review application filed by lawyers of Mr Mahama, against the court’s earlier ruling on whether or not witnesses can be compelled to testify in the court. Chief Justice Anin Yeboah in the ruling on behalf of the nine justices said the application was without merit and accordingly dismissed it. Lead counsel of the petitioner in the ongoing election petition hearing Tsatsu Tsikata has yet again made a case for the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling on Tuesday, February 16. The seven justices of the apex court of Ghana unanimously dismissed the application of the petitioner, John Dramani Mahama, for the case to be re-opened in order to subpoena the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC), the First Respondent, to testify in court as a “hostile witness”. On Monday, February 22, Mr Tsikata questioned the basis of the ruling, saying the justices themselves were surprised when the First Respondent closed its case without calling its witness, Jean Adukwei Mensah, to testify. Mr Tsikata said the justices may have their reasons for the decision to dismiss the application but “it is the ruling of the panel that we are here to question”. “I am not in the minds of the panel,” he stressed. He further argued that for Mrs Mensa to have filed a witness statement meant that she was committed to mount the witness box. “We have no reason to say she was not telling the truth,” he said. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. It states: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.” He concluded: “May each of the lordships decide based on your conscience and your judicial oath.” Counsels for the respondents – Justin Amenuvor for the First Respondent and Akoto Ampaw for the Second Respondent – asked the Court to set aside the review application since it does not merit its prayer. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Politics

‘I went overboard, crossed the line; I apologise, retract’ contemptuous words – Ayine

Former Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine has apologised for saying the Supreme Court has a “predetermined agenda” to rule against former President John Mahama, the petitioner in the ongoing election petition case. “I have looked at what I said that day and I have come to the conclusion that I went overboard, I crossed the line with respect to the remarks that I made”, Dr Ayine told the media on Monday, 22 February 2021 after the hearing. Dr Ayine’s apology came after the court asked him to do so. In court on Monday, the Bench reprimanded Dr Ayine for those comments and asked him to purge himself of the contemptuous words through the same media by which he made the earlier comments. Dr Ayine has also written an unqualified apology to the court and the Justices. Background Dr Ayine’s comment came after the apex court on Tuesday, 16 February 2021, ruled that Mr Mahama could not reopen his case for the sole purpose of subpoenaing the star witness of the Electoral Commission and using her as an “adverse” witness. In his media address, Dr Ayine said: “The Supreme Court asked itself a question, which we deem as a wrong question and answered that question. It said: why does the Chairperson need to account to the people of Ghana when she’s not a party to the suit”. “Now you’ll recall that counsel made it clear that one of the reasons we are in court is because of the unconstitutional conduct of Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa as the returning officer under the Constitution and it is not true that there is only one issue that needs to be determined in this matter”, the lawmaker said. He continued: “I am surprised that the Supreme Court itself, having set down five key issues to be determined, is now reducing the issues to one, which is whether and extent to which the evidence that we have led, shows that no one got more than 50 per cent of the votes in accordance with article 53 of the Constitution”. “But we have made it abundantly clear in the petition that there were a number of infractions”. “We are contesting even the constitutionality of the declaration that was made. We are saying that she violated article 23 of the Constitution because she’s an administrative body”. “We have also said her exercise of discretion was contrary to article 296 of the Constitution”. “These are all germane issues under the Constitution and laws of Ghana and to reduce the petition into a single-issue petition, is rather unfortunate and smacks of a predetermined agenda to rule against the petitioner in this matter”. A spokesperson for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s legal team, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, described Dr Ayine’s assertion as “unfair to the judicial system”. Speaking to the media, the former information minister said: “It is not fair to the judicial system, it’s not fair to our democracy, it’s not fair to the people of Ghana that when you lose an application because it is not grounded in law or because you’ve failed to meet the legal standard, then you come here and literally poison the minds of the public and make claims that they may be having a predetermined agenda. That’s scandalous of the court”. “When you make a legal argument and it is upheld, that one is good; when you make an argument and it doesn’t meet the threshold, then it means that they are wrong in law or that they have a predetermined agenda. “The Supreme Court has not reduced the petition to a single issue. We tried our best to transcribe the ruling and we’re waiting for the written version of it. The court said that the major issue, it didn’t say there was a single issue before it…” Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Politics

Breaking: Deputy Clerk of Parliament dead

Ghana’s parliament has lost one of its serving deputy clerks, Robert Apodolla. Apodolla passed away on Friday, February, 19, 2021 after a short illness. The deceased is respected by MPs in Ghana’s legislature as he was well versed with parliamentary rules and procedures. He’d the experience of working with all past Speakers of Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana. A former lawmaker for Kumbungu in the Northern region, Ras Mubarak in a Facebook post mourning Apodolla said: “Parliament of Ghana has lost one of its unsung icons, a dedicated servant of parliament who knew his work inside out, and discharged his duties diligently.” The deceased until his demise was a member of the Society of clerks-at-the-table in the Commonwealth parliaments. MyNewsGH Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Business

MTN and Mastercard empower millions in Africa to make payments

The MTN Group and Mastercard has announced a strategic partnership to enable millions of consumers in 16 countries across Africa to make global e-commerce payments safely and securely. “Through a Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to MTN MoMo (Mobile Money) wallets, consumers and merchants can engage with brands and businesses abroad through digital commerce, extending their reach to an international marketplace and unlocking a host of opportunities,” it said. A joint statement issued by the MTN Group and Mastercard said across Sub-Saharan Africa, mobile devices were the primary channel used to connect to the internet and that according to GSMA, by 2025, it was estimated that there would be 300 million more people using their devices to access internet services. “In light of this significant growth, mobile financial services have become the dominant form of digital payments, with twice as many mobile money accounts as bank accounts in the region. As a result, consumers increasingly expect to have access to a broader range of digital financial services,” it stated. The statement said, however, consumers and merchants were mostly restricted to a local base of online and offline businesses, therefore curtailing customers’ ability to engage in global commerce. It said through this strategic partnership, MTN customers with a Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to their MoMo wallets can make payments to global online merchants through a seamless and secure digital payment experience on websites and mobile applications and that the service was available regardless of whether or not the customer has a bank account. The statement said the solution would enable consumers to explore and shop at well-known global e-commerce brands and pay quickly and securely for leisure shopping, travel, accommodation, entertainment, streaming services and more. It would also allow small business owners to purchase from suppliers abroad and pay with the virtual payment solution. “We are very excited about this partnership with Mastercard, which is another step in realizing our ambition to build Africa’s largest fintech platform, accelerating economic and social development through digital innovation to the benefit of citizens across the continent and beyond,” the MTN Group said. It added that “This noteworthy partnership is another step to enable our customers to participate in the global economy. We are resolute that accelerated financial inclusion is a potent enabler of socio-economic development that empowers the most vulnerable in society.” The Mastercard said: “This significant milestone will enable millions of MTN customers to benefit from global digital commerce and drive digital and financial inclusion across Africa through easy and secure access to financial services. “At Mastercard, our innovation strategy is based on partnerships and collaboration. This agreement with MTN shows that we can deliver innovative digital solutions that have a far-reaching impact and realize the true potential of inclusive growth across the continent. “Partnering with MTN allows us to accelerate our global pledge to connect 1 billion people to the digital economy by 2025, bringing us closer to a world beyond cash,” it said. The MTN and Mastercard first launched the digital payment solution in 2018 for MoMo customers. MTN, the largest mobile network operator, is the ‘Most Admired African Brand’ based on spontaneous consumer responses in Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands 2020 survey and the most valuable telecoms brand in Africa by Brand Finance Africa. The company will extend the virtual payment solution offering throughout its Fintech footprint. The expansion of this payment solution will play a significant role in driving the growth of digital inclusion and e-commerce thus increasing MTN MoMo customer inclusion into the global economy. Initially designed to facilitate the transfer of cash between mobile users, MTN’s MoMo offering is now much broader – including loans, insurance, remittances and payments. GNA Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

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SCANCOM PLC (MTN GHANA) ANNOUNCES BOARD CHANGES

MTN records GH¢1.3bn profit; optimistic of resolving SMP impasse with government

Mahama not being given fair hearing – Sammy Gyamfi

‘I went overboard, crossed the line; I apologise, retract’ contemptuous words – Ayine

Breaking: Deputy Clerk of Parliament dead

MTN and Mastercard empower millions in Africa to make payments

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