Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has charged MTN Ghana headed by their new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Stephen Blewett to put in place the needed measures and technological advancement to improve the communication and data experience of customers and Ghanaians.
His Majesty anticipates that this will cement their monopoly on the market as there are no strong competitors in the country.
Courtesy Call
He said this when the telecommunication group formally made a presentation of their new CEO to him at the Manhyia Palace.
Mr Blewett is the successor to Mr Selorm Adadevoh who was recently promoted to the position of Chief Commercial Officer at MTN Group- the mother company based in South Africa.
He was introduced by some management members led by Mr Ebenezer Twum Asante, the Senior Vice President of the Group.
“About five years ago, I came to tell Otumfuo I had been assigned a role at MTN Group and introduced Selorm Adadevoh. He came to work and after his time, he was assigned a role in South Africa. Selorm is now being replaced by Stephen, so it is only fitting that I lead him here,” Mr Asante told His Majesty.
For his part, Mr Blewett served his readiness to continue the long-time relations with the Palace and its people.
“I want us to continue the relationship that exists between Your Majesty, the Kingdom, the people and MTN. We have a long relationship and we keep that relationship close to our heart. It’s important to us and we want to continue holding to that relationship.”
He also committed himself to undertaking comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to better the lives of the underprivileged.
Improvement in Communication Experience
Welcoming the new CEO, His Majesty counselled him to leverage his expertise which earned him an accolade during his tenure in Benin to improve the communication and data experience of their customers.
He believes this will enable them to legitimately monopolise the telecommunication space.
“I know MTN must have made the right choice to bring you. We have been working with them for some time. With the experience in Benin, and being given the Best CEO of the Year, I expect you to continue what you have done so that MTN will continue to be a major player in the industry in terms of creating employment, building on technology, helping in education and all that because now it’s about technology.”
The Occupant of the Golden Stool posited that the majority of Ghanaians are subscribers of the yellow brand and thereby the need to give them the optimum services due them.
“About 70% of Ghanaians virtually depend on MTN for communication… Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t see much competition now but I would have loved for competition to come to challenge you to see if you can resist.”
Otumfuo also urged him to build a proper structure on the good foundation laid through the hard work of his predecessors to make the company successful.
Staff Training
Chief among His Majesty’s wishes is for the new CEO to provide the needed in-service training to staff to equip them to handle the business based in Ghana.
“The people sitting here are mine and therefore I expect that they are looked after properly. I expect training and technology transfer so that we can also grow them up to be able to be experienced with what they do with the company. If we are able to enhance their abilities and training, it will inure to the benefit of MTN. I demand that you look after them.”
Otumfuo who is also the Life Patron of the Asante Kotoko Sporting Club further lobbied for the reinstatement of the defunct partnership between his club and the country’s leading telecommunication company.
Source: Manhyia Palace
