eCARE COMMISSIONS NORTHERN SECTOR PROJECT ROLLOUT AT CHUCHULIGA

The Northern Sector eCARE project rollout which was commissioned on June 21, 2007 by the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Awudu Yeremia and supported by the District Chief Executive, Hon. Thomas Kofi Alonsi at Chuchuliga a small farming community, 9 km from Navrongo in the Builsa district of the Upper East was the first in the region

Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Awudu Yeremia giving his address

The CEO of Ghana Telecom Mr. Dickson Oduro Nyaning in his address read for him by the Upper East Regional Director of Ghana Telecom, said, the project has successfully established 52 centres in 8 regions of Ghana and is adding 17 more to bring the number to 69 by close of June 2007 to cover all 10 regions of Ghana.

Mr. Musa Awudu Upper East Regional Director of Ghana Telecom giving address on behalf of Mr. Dickson Oduro Nyaning, the CEO of Ghana Telecom.

A typical building of Chuchuliga. Solar installations before the eCARE commissioning at chchuliga

Mr. Joseph Abanyin, the eCARE Project Manager addressing the gathering, said, eCommerce eCARE is addressing developmental and economic needs in Ghana’s rural and peri urban communities where purely commercial oriented organizations have neglected over the years. He said, the first batch of the 2007 eCARE project rollout has received close collaboration between eCARE, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunication (GIFTEL) of the Ministry of Communication leading to the sponsorship of 5 centres by UNDP as part of her efforts to meet some developmental needs in Ghana through eCARE. Mr. Abanyin also emphasized that, Provision of internet to the remote centres which was a major problem has become a thing of the past with new technology deployed by Ghana Telecom, and making Chuchuliga the first eCARE centre to commercially use the new technology. eCARE project facilitates the extension of telecommunication and renewable energy services powered by solar energy to underprivileged rural and peri urban communities using furnished shipping containers equipped with telephones, multimedia computers, printers, scanners, copiers and internet.

Browsing the internet & testing the new phone lines before commissioning

The Assembly Woman of Chuchuliga & others dancing to the occasion

Hon. Kofi Asanti, the CEO of GIFTEL addressing the gathering during the commissioning.

The project is a collaborative effort between Ghana Telecom (GT), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Foundation (UNF), Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment (KITE), UNDP and GIFTEL.

eCARE TRANSPORT 17 CONTAINERS FOR JUNE PROJECT ROLLOUT

As part of the eCARE project's effort to facilitate the establishment and operation of Rural Business Centres (RBCs) for the extension of telecommunication and renewable energy services to underprivileged rural and peri urban communities, the project deploys RBCs comprising converted and furnished shipping containers equipped with telephones, fully multimedia computers, printers, scanners, copiers, internet and solar panels to the targetted communities.

eCARE Project Team inspecting works on container conversion

To meet the project schedule as well as the quality standard required for the project rollout, the project team periodically inspects and interact with project contractors and their staff to know the progress of work done.

eCARE Project Team interacts with some artisans during the container conversion

Some model containers ready for branding

After almost three months of hectic time of conversion and remodelling shipping containers into Rural Business centres (RBC) for the first batch of the 2007 eCARE project rollout, 17 RBC are ready to be transported for the June project rollout.

Finished containers being loaded to be transported to new eCARE sites.

Twenty Four (24) New Entrepreneurs Complete eCARE Training

The eCARE project made another feat when the fourth batch of entrepreneurs completed their 5-day training programme on Friday 20th April 2007 for the main phase project rollout scheduled for June 2007.

Mr. Justice Gaveh (in blue), GCB Corporate Manager awarding certificate to an entrepreneur at the closing celemony

The 5-day intensive training programme utilized enterprise development approach to train potential entrepreneurs at the Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) on various subjects including Bookkeeping, marketing/customer care, how to expand the eCARE business, small business management, basic computer utilization skills, the telephone system, renewable energy resources and Value Added Service (VAS)

A cross section of entrepreneurs during the closing section

The main objective of the eCARE entrepreneur training was to provide knowledge, skills and attitudes to ensure successful business practice at eCARE Rural Business Centres (RBCs). The closing ceremony for the training programme, held on the 20th of April 2007 was attended by the Principal of GTUC, some senior management personnel from Ghana Telecom Head Office, media personnel and friends of eCARE.

Entrepreneurs watching the demontration of new M2M machine for the eCARE centres. The participants were very enthusiastic and showed appreciation to the project partners, resource persons, organizers and sponsors of the training programme. They were appreciative of the opportunity Ghana Telecom and Partners have given them to acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills to manage the RBCs.