MTN, the acclaimed leading telecommunication network in Ghana, has spent over GHC600,000 on projects in the Western Region as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Madam Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Services Executive of MTN, at an Editors Forum organised by the company in Takoradi, revealed that the projects focused on health, education and economic empowerment. Education alone had as many as 31 projects.

She disclosed that her outfit had rehabilitated the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital Labour Ward, expanded the Accident Ward, and donated 140 pieces of health equipment to the Shama District Health Centre to improve healthcare services in the poor communities.

Some of the challenges confronting MTN, she claimed, included arbitrary fees charged by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), destruction of its underground lines during road construction, scams, diesel thefts and frequent power-outages.

She therefore appealed to the MMDAs to make public, fees charged to facilitate mutual co-operation between MTN and the MMDAs.

Mrs. Lumor said MTN had over 10.5 million subscribers in the country and was the fourth biggest telecommunication network in Africa. She further disclosed that MTN Ghana Foundation, the outfit responsible for many of MTN's corporate social responsibility, had spent GHC7 million in the beneficiary communities. It has also spent $1.2 billion to improve its network thus helping business to flourish among its users.

According to her, the telecom industry is a key driver of economic growth, directly accounting for 7% of investments in the country, 10% of the government's income and 2% of Ghana's GDP.

She added that her outfit had built ICT Centres in all the ten regions, while also supporting Persons With Disability (PWDs) and offering scholarships for brilliant but needy students.