The MTN Ghana Foundation has inaugurated an Information and Communication (ICT) Centre for the personnel and inmates of Ankaful Prisons in the Central Region.
The Foundation constructed the building, installed five computers with five desk tops, air conditioners and ceiling fans, all estimated at GHc31,000.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, Executive Director of the Foundation, said the project was to facilitate ICT training for the 2,000 inmates and personnel of the Prison.
Additionally, it would enhance skills development and moral education and build the capacity of the personnel for effective record keeping and management.
The statement said the MTN Ghana Foundation Board had approved support for ICT development at the Prison based on a request received for
assistance.
Mrs Trebarh said the Foundation was happy to assist national efforts at developing ICT knowledge across all stakeholder groups and support the prisons reform process.
"The MTN Foundation is committed to the socio-economic advancement of the Ghanaian population. Prisons reform is an important part of nation's development agenda and the Foundation is proud to have engaged and assisted the Ghana Prisons Service undertake educational projects that would impact positively on efforts in that regard," she said.
The Foundation has been associated with the Ghana Prisons Service since 2008.
Staff volunteers of MTN visited the Nsawam Prisons to interact with the inmates and later donated items such as mattresses, medicine and MTN
souvenirs, as part of the 2008 Y'ello Care Challenge.
During the 2010 edition of Yello Care, staff volunteers led by Mr Mazen Mroue, Chief Information Officer of MTN Ghana, interacted with the inmates of the Senior Correctional Centre at Roman Ridge in Accra, who were given lessons in introductory ICT with practical learning from MTN IT staff.
The statement said the commitment to support the Ankaful Prisons was also informed by the experiences MTN Employee Volunteers had during visits to the Prisons.
The Foundation was established by MTN Group Board as the vehicle for effectively administering MTN's Corporate Social Responsibility
contributions.
Since its establishment in November 2007, the Foundation has been involved in social development projects across the country which has greatly impacted the lives of the people in communities in which MTN operates.
MTN is a global telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The countries are: Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia,
Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.
The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: "MTN".