Mobile market leader MTN Ghana has opened a new ICT centre worth GHS 65,000 for the spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai in Accra. The centre is to provide internet services for 16,000 spare parts dealers in that market and also train about 200 of the traders to enable them access information about the items they import and also familiarize themselves with automated and electronic systems at the ports. The centre has 25 computers, four printers, a projector and screen, a 240 Gigabite data card, three MTN routers, and a classroom. Segment Controller, Marketing, for MTN Ghana, Maxwell Arthur told Adom News MTN identified the Abossey Okai spare parts market as one of its high revenue areas but the people there did not participate in MTN promotions. “We realized they only used their phones for business so we decided to do something special for them and they chose the ICT centre and training in the use of ICT to facilitate their work,” he said. He said MTN is partnering with an ICT solutions provider, INTU-IT to provide the training, maintenance and manage the centre for free for a period of 10 months then it would be handed over to the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association to manage. In a statement read on his behalf, MTN Chief Marketing Officer Rahul De said MTN was excited about bringing its service closer to the Abossey Okai community as part of efforts to build the capacities of SMEs in Ghana through MTN’s Business Solutions. “We at MTN recognize the critical role SME’s hold in our nation’s economic growth and development – we are committed to partnering with you all as we provide you with the required support to help your businesses growth,” he said. He reminded the Abossey Okai community about the extension of the SIM Card registration exercise and urged them to take advantage and register their MTN SIM cards. President of the Ghana Union of Traders Associations, George Kwaku Ofori said the gesture by MTN was very opportune as ICT was no more a luxury but a necessity for their businesses as all their wares were imported. He assured MTN that the spare parts dealers would make full use of the facility and also maintain. Story by Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona/Adom News/Ghana