MTN Boosts New Asafo JHS with Tablets, ICT Devices and Souvenirs, with Girls Winning Debate in Gender-Based Violence Sensitization Drive
The MTN Ghana Foundation has taken significant steps in its fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by engaging pupils at the New Asafo Basic and Junior High School in the Asokwa Municipality of Kumasi. The initiative, part of MTN Group’s 2024 campaign to mark the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from 25 November to 10 December, included donations of tablets, ICT devices, branded souvenirs, and an educational debate aimed at fostering awareness and respect among students.
The campaign, which was launched in November 2024, underscores MTN’s commitment to building safer, more inclusive communities while educating the younger generation about the consequences of violence, particularly against women and girls.
During the outreach, George Kyei Frimpong, Education Portfolio Advisor for the MTN Foundation, emphasized the organization’s firm stance against violence.
“MTN abhors any form of violence, especially gender-based violence. The sensitization is essentially for people to desist from it,” Frimpong stated, highlighting the importance of cultivating a respectful and supportive school environment.
He encouraged students, especially boys, to treat their female classmates with dignity and to reject discriminatory or harmful behaviors. Frimpong also drew attention to the rising trend of cyberbullying, noting that online abuse disproportionately targets girls and can negatively affect their emotional well-being and academic performance.
As part of the engagement, MTN organized a debate on the motion: “Teaching boys and girls the same content will prevent violence.” The debate offered pupils an opportunity to reflect on the value of equality and mutual respect. The girls’ team emerged victorious with 842 points, narrowly defeating the boys’ team, which scored 820 points. The event not only celebrated the students’ intellectual engagement but also reinforced lessons on discipline, equality, and non-violence.
In addition to the debate, MTN presented tablets and other ICT equipment to the school’s computer laboratory, alongside branded souvenirs for participating students. The donations aim to support ICT learning and equip pupils with digital skills essential for contemporary education.
Frimpong noted that targeting basic and junior high school pupils is crucial in shaping young minds early.
“We focus on younger students so they grow with a clear understanding that gender-based violence is unacceptable and must never be tolerated,” he said.
The New Asafo JHS engagement is part of a broader national outreach by the MTN Ghana Foundation, with similar activities conducted across various regions to sensitize communities, promote safe learning environments, and strengthen the fight against Gender-Based Violence in Ghana.
