Ghana’s telecommunications giant, Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN), has held a one-day media interaction for selected journalists, editors, and some stakeholders in the Volta Region at the regional capital of Ho with a call on media practitioners in the region to help curb the activities of fraudsters who are using the network to fraud unsuspecting customers with all manner of mobile money (Momo) typologies.
The media engagement dubbed ‘Media & Stakeholders’ Forum’, attracted more than forty (40) media personnel and stakeholders from across the length and breadth of the region who are operating in radio, television, print, and online platforms.
The annual MTN media interaction, which has spanned for more than a decade across the country, allows the journalists not only to be appraised of the performance of MTN Ghana in the telecommunications space in the country but also to seek answers from officials of the telecoms giant to some of the major challenges and issues affecting customers or users of the network in their various jurisdictions.
One of the features introduced to this year’s forum was a group work by the journalists who researched the topic, ‘The Future of Digital Technology; MTN in the Next Five Years’, for presentation at the forum. The three (3) groups of ten (10) members each had the opportunity to present their papers to the forum.
Group One (1) which came up tops in the competition, had an award of Two Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc2,000.00) worth of airtime for sharing among its group members. Group Three (3) placed in the second position. The members went home with MTN airtime worth One Thousand, Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (Ghc1,500.00) while Group Two (2) registered the third position, going home with One Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc1,000.00) worth of credit.
Talents’ show was another unique feature that characterized this year’s Media and Stakeholders’ Forum where some of the journalists showcased their talents in music (singing) and poetry recital to the admiration of all and sundry. Ms. Thywill Enam Gaglo of Kekeli Radio, Ho was adjudged the overall winner in the category, going home with a cash prize of Five Hundred Cedis (Ghc500.00). Mr. Walter Sitsofe Kofi Gamor of Ho FM placed second, getting Four Hundred Cedis (Ghc400.00) cash award for his performance. Ms. Alberta Enyonam Adawotorvor of Victory FM, Aflao was declared the third best with a Three Hundred Cedis (Ghc300.00) cash award with Mr. Albert Kuzor of Asasey Radio placing the fourth position, receiving Two Hundred Cedis (Ghc200.00) cash as his prize.
The Senior Manager and Commercial Head of MTN, South East Region (Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta & Oti Regions), Mr. Peter Bimpeh, Area Sales Manager in-charge of Eastern, Volta and Oti Regions, Mr. Ransford Gyan as well as the Regional Technical Manager, Eastern, Volta and Oti Regions, Mr. Samuel Duku, took the participants through the overview or the performance of MTN for the 2023 and 2024 years, its commercial operations, strides and current scope as well as the general technical issues including network sites and operations of MTN for the period under review. Senior Manager, Retail Experience, South, Ms. Janet Quarshie later assisted her colleagues in answering questions from the journalists and clarified the many issues bothering their minds on behalf of the clients in their communities.
Speaking to our news team in an interview after the event, Mr. Peter Bimpeh disclosed that MTN has, over the last five (5) years, invested One Billion Dollars ($1B) in the network to ensure that customers are provided with adequate services and to ensure that MTN gives them better connectivity that would enhance their work. According to him, MTN on average, has thus invested about Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200M) every year, adding that this commitment would continue, all in a bid to enhance all activities on the network and also to provide the best of services to their customers.
The Senior Manager and Commercial Head of MTN, South East Region, expressed concern about the activities of Momo fraudsters on the network, explaining that MTN is doing a lot including intensifying public education to eliminate if not reduce the canker from the system. Mr. Bimpeh noted that the canker is common due to the growth of mobile money services over the years and stressed the need for customers not only to safeguard their pins but also to be alert when such fraud typologies are slashed on their phones by these fraudsters through all kinds of misleading messages.
Mr. Bimpeh also disclosed that MTN in partnership with the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has trained police personnel and some officers of other security services not only to bring them up to speed on some of these fraud typologies but also to help nip the practice in the bud.
‘Your pin to allow you to take money from your wallet is your ultimate secret. That is one thing we keep driving home that you must keep your pin secret’, Mr. Bimpeh emphasized.
