Two to support Millenium Village

ERICSSON has partnered Millicom Ghana (Tigo) to support the establishment of a Millennium Village in the Northern Region to connect  up to 30,000 people to broadband services.
The move is to enable people in the deprived rural areas of the region to access mobile communication to improve the social and economic well-being of the citizens.
Ericsson in partnership with Tigo will deploy a voice and data network along with a hybrid power solution; mobile network coverage and connectivity for previously unserved rural communities in the Northern part of Ghana.
The Director of the MDG Centre for West Africa, Mr Amadou Ibra Niang, who announced this when he addressed the media at a ceremony to outline Ericsson’s support for the project said, mobile services together with internet connectivity would boost all levels of development in this otherwise neglected area.
He also lauded the support by Ericsson and Tigo and stressed that, “I believe we will see quick advances in health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure and business development through this partnership.”
The Millennium Village project is a partnership between the Earth Institute, Millennium Promise and UNOPs which forms part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to reduce poverty in sub- Saharan Africa by 2015 through mobile connectivity.
The new project site in Northern Ghana would provide data connectivity to 16 schools and 5 clinics in some of the poorest sections of the West- Mamprusi and Builsa Districts.
The project site which is being funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID) is being supported in Ghana by Ericsson and Millicom Ghana (Tigo).
He also added that “it will help to accelerate the elimination of poverty and provide vital services for the communities throughout the region.”
The President of Ericsson Sub- Saharan Africa, Mr Lars Linden also expressed optimism on the success of this initiative saying “we are committed to supporting the achievement of the MDGs in Africa and expect the connectivity in the new Millennium Village to act as a catalyst for economic growth while improving the quality of life of the residents.”
The acting Chief Executive Officer of Tigo Ghana, Mr Obafemi Banigbe in his address reiterated the telecommunication company’s commitment to offering best services and supporting initiatives that fostered economic growth.
He said the Millennium Village Project was cemmendable and Tigo would thus offer its support to make connectivity available to the remotest part of the country.
“Globally, Millicom’s mission is to provide freedom to access today’s world for people in emerging markets; for people who want to stay in touch, belong to communities and to be informed as well as entertained; in so doing enabling them to express their emotions and to enhance their lives,” he said.
Mr Banigbe also added that “it is our overriding vision to create a world where mobile services are affordable, accessible and available everywhere and to all.”