Author: Akin Naphtal

To address Ghana’s ongoing network disruption, the National Communications Authority (NCA) convened a face-to-face meeting with representatives from all four subsea cable landing service providers, namely ACE, MainOne, SAT-3, and WACS, alongside the three major mobile network operators, AT, MTN, and Telecel. The gathering, attended by top management figures from these entities, served as a platform for updates on the disruption which began last week, and discussions regarding the path forward. It was disclosed that mobile network operators and subsea cable landing service providers are actively collaborating with international partners in the sub-region to enhance data service capacity progressively. Reports…

African financial institutions typically scale their solutions using a mix of local and foreign tech. Appzone is one of the standout local fintech software providers for banks and fintechs, providing better pricing and flexibility. For over a decade, the Nigeria-based Appzone has functioned as an enabler (at payment rails and core infrastructure) within banking and payments, building custom software and software-as-a-service products for over 18 commercial banks and more than 450 microfinance banks across Africa, including Ghana and Kenya. In 2022, the fintech software provider, founded by Emeka Emetarom, Obi Emetarom and Wale Onawunmi, decided to self-innovate by delving into…

Gbenga Odegbami (CEO) founded Youverify in 2018 to provide an API for address and identity verification to many institutions. Since then, the company has expanded its real-time business verification operation into 145 jurisdictions in 48 countries. The company also handles real-time individual verification in 46 countries, which includes credit history and national identity numbers. The startup reportedly exceeded its original plan to expand its service coverage to 30 African countries, a goal the company set during its seed extension round in 2022. However, Youverify only serves commercial customers in 12 countries, processing 4 million applications per month for over 3,500…

Vodafone Ghana has rebranded itself as Telecel Ghana, as part of a broader effort to expand access to communication services across the country. Telecel Ghana has now taken over various operations previously managed by Vodafone, including fixed telephone lines, internet services, voice and data services, as well as cash transfer and other business services. The transition follows the acquisition of a 70 percent majority stake in Vodafone Ghana by Telecel Group. Speaking more on the acquisition, the CEO of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, stated that “in February 2023, Vodafone Ghana ended its work in Ghana. So, we signed a deal…

The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE) has today launched an ambitious Strategic Plan 2023-2027 with an aim to spur ICT to great heights of achievements. Speaking during the launch that was held in Nairobi, MICDE Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Eliud Owalo stated that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is an important milestone for the Ministry since it serves as the foremost policy blueprint and roadmap, that will guide the Ministry’s implementation of its activities, projects and programmes for a five-year period. He reiterated that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is the culmination of concerted efforts by the Ministry and…

In response to growing concerns about misinformation and the potential misuse of AI technology, Google has begun restricting its AI chatbot, Gemini, from providing responses to queries related to global elections scheduled for 2024. The Alphabet-owned firm stated on Tuesday, 12th March, that the move aims to prevent potential missteps in the deployment of the technology, particularly in sensitive political contexts. The decision comes amid increasing advancements in generative AI, including image and video generation, which have raised concerns about the spread of fake news and misinformation. Governments worldwide have been prompted to consider regulating such technologies to mitigate potential…

Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, Safaricom PLC, has announced a sponsorship of Ksh 25 million for the Lewa Safari Marathon, commemorating 25 years of partnership, and showing Safaricom’s commitment to one of Kenya’s most iconic events. In collaboration with Lewa Safari Marathon, Safaricom has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at safeguarding endangered species such as black rhinos and Grevy’s zebras, while simultaneously promoting sustainable development within local communities. Through partnerships and investments with like-minded organisations, Safaricom has continued to play a major role in driving positive change and preserving Kenya’s rich biodiversity. In a LinkedIn post announcing the sponsorship,…

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has invited technologists and tech enthusiasts across the country to attend the upcoming edition of DevsInGovernment scheduled for Thursday, 14th March. Dr. Tijani announced this via his LinkedIn page, where he also posted an image showing that the CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent O. Olatunji, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadia Bala Usman, and the Statistician General of the Federation and CEO, National Bureau of Statistics, Adeniran Adeyemi, will be attending. DevsInGovernment is a recurring event aimed at bringing together technologists,…

Moroccan FinTech, tookeez, a pioneering startup, has secured $1.5 million in a fundraising round led by the Azur Innovation Fund, a public-private seed capital fund renowned for its support of innovative ventures. Azur Innovation Fund has built a reputation for championing ambitious projects that aim to reshape the customer loyalty landscape across Africa and the MENA region. At the core of tookeez’s platform lies an innovative concept aimed at simplifying and enhancing consumers interaction with loyalty programs. By consolidating loyalty points from a diverse array of brands into a single, user-friendly wallet, tookeez empowers consumers to seamlessly transact across a…

MTN Group has announced the appointment of Ali Monzer as CEO of MTN South Sudan, effective 1 April 2024, succeeding Gordian Kyomukama, who is set to retire after a distinguished career with MTN. MTN announced the new appointment on its LinkedIn page. Speaking on the appointment, MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said, “I am pleased to have Ali spearheading our operations in South Sudan and believe he will add immense value to the market. His wealth of experience and proven track record in technology and operations make him well-positioned to drive MTN South Sudan’s continued growth and success.”…