Vodafone says it is contributing to SDGs
Nana Yaa Ofori-Koree, Director of Vodafone Ghana Foundation and Sustainability, says the telecommunications company is contributing its quota to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.
She said the company currently focuses much on improvement of health, education and disaster management.
She said this at a national stakeholders’ conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development organised by the Centre for CSR West Africa in Accra, to deliberate on the contributions of institutions especially the private sector to the SDGs.
Nana Yaa said the Company has promoted health in many ways including initiating Healthline, Health fest, Health line 255, Health App, Mobile4Good, and charitable donations to ensure the health of the citizenry.
“Healthline 255 has an average of 400 calls per day and experts provide health related advice to Ghanaians”, she said.
The Company has a scholarship scheme for students and has refurbished the Asofan library.
It has also initiated mentorship programmes as well as Information Technology training for the youth.
Nana Yaa said unexpected occurrences like the “June 3” disaster and Ebola outbreaks were supported by the Company to reduce the damaged caused.
She said the Foundation would focus on development in the youth, children and women, adding that they intend to end poverty in any form.
Ms Pearl Darko, Chairperson of the conference said partnership with the private sector helps to generate growth and development, adding that government cannot achieve the SDGs on its own.
She said with the help of private sector, activities like immunisation is slowly making polio and other diseases a thing of the past.
Ms Darko said the SDGs could be achieved through collaboration between philanthropic organisations, businesses, private sector, government and the United Nations.
She said the SDGs work within the areas of water, livelihood, education and enable philanthropic organisations to work within the align of national priorities, stressing that the development agenda is not just for the government but for everybody.
The Conference was supported by the Association of Ghana Industries, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industries, United Nations Development Programme, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and integrity PR.
Source: GNA