Intel vs AMD: Which processor should you opt for?

Intel and AMD are two names that everyone in the gaming and technology industry is aware of. They are two of the biggest CPU producers in the world. Combined, these companies dominate the CPU market and are the first choice of most of the customers around the globe. However, when it comes to drawing a comparison between the both, a lot of consumers get confused and stuck as to which one they should be going for. Today we bring to you a list of factors that you should check before deciding between both.

Supportive Motherboards

Apart from CPUs, motherboards are another important thing that affects the performance of your PC. AMD processors support AM4 motherboards. You should check this Gaming-reviews guide to learn more about the best motherboards that go with AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processors. As compared to this, Intel processors support the LGA motherboards. Generally speaking, the AM4 motherboards are considered to be more efficient than the LGA ones because they have more slots for RAM, as well as better features such as built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support.

Clock-speeds

The efficiency and in particular the speed of a processor is best signified by its clock speed. The clock speeds of processors made by both of the companies are largely similar, however, it is generally observed that as far as base speeds are concerned, AMD takes the lead but at over-clocked speeds, Intel has the edge. 

The overall over-clocked performance of Intel is also considered to be better than AMD since according to a lot of reports, PCs with AMD CPUs get heated up when over-clocked. However, as a whole the clock speeds are similar and if you are looking only at them, making a decision is very difficult and would depend on the models you are considering. 

Lithography

Intel seems to be a generation behind when it comes to the lithography and manufacturing process. Intel comes with the 14 nm lithography, which is an old generation and the performance provided by it is quite sluggish. AMD has a clear lead in this department as its processors come with 7nm lithography that is much more efficient. As far as energy efficiency is concerned, AMD has a clear victory in this department. All its processors consume less energy as compared to Intel’s processors and therefore are the first choice of many economically conscious users. 

The Zen2 CPU architecture of the AMD is also far more superior to the Coffee Lake architecture of the Intel processors. All in all, they are some minor elements that affect the performance and if you are a perfectionist who looks for the best in everything, you should be a bit inclined towards AMD.

Built-in Features

AMD also has the lead when it comes to built-in features. Almost all AMD processors have a cooling system out of the box – its efficacy is quite limited but good to have for those people with very normal usage. All Intel processors apart from the ‘K’ series in all its models come without a cooling system and therefore you have to spend extra bucks on buying one. 

As far as GPUs are concerned, Intel has integrated graphics support with all of their processors however AMD provides this as a premium add-on on only the best of their graphics. Although the performance of the integrated GPUs in processors from both producers will not be able to satisfy hardcore gamers looking forward to playing some big titles such as GTA and Call of Duty. 

AMD also has an edge thanks to its SenseMI technology that adapts to the usage patterns and then optimizes itself in a manner that the performance for the user becomes far better. 

Final Verdict

All in all, you should be making a decision based on your usage patterns. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution to your normal, daily life computer usage, then you should purchase the AAMD processor as it would not require a lot of add-ons. However, if you are an enthusiast and like to maximize the performance of your computer, you should go for the Intel processors and buy compatible accessories with them to get the best experience. 

source https://www.jbklutse.com/intel-vs-amd-which-processor-should-you-opt-for/

Introducing Surfline’s Pay Weekly bundle; everything you need to know

Let’s face it, things “make tight”, but staying connected with family and friends is a must. Surfline understands that you rely on daily revenue to make a living and that is why they have introduced the Pay Weekly data bundles made purposely to suit your pocket no matter your income bracket. Lose yourself in video chat with friends and family, watch your favourite TV show or just stream your favourite team play. Whatever you choose to do on Surfline’s stable and super-fast network, their all-new Pay Weekly bundle got you covered. With this, you don’t have to worry if you can’t commit to outright payment for their monthly AlwaysOn or All Weather bundles which never expire.

How it works

First things first! This bundle gives you the option to lock in a monthly bundle and pay weekly for a weekly data quota. Don’t you worry, we’ll explain. For example, you can opt-in to a PayWeekly plan, lock in a 36GB bundle for the month but you don’t have to pay the full cost at the time of purchasing this bundle. You will pay GHc40 per week and be allocated a weekly bundle of 9GB. Once you make this weekly payment of GHc40, you will enjoy 36GB at the end of the month. Thus, 9GB each week of the month.

The good news is, you don’t get to lose your unused weekly data quota. They’ll roll over your unused data and it does not expire too. You cannot, however, gift this bundle or share it with other users.

How to get this offer

To get on this offer and enjoy the flexibility that comes with it, you will have to opt-in by dialling *718*77# on all networks, visit any Surfline shop and request activation or purchase from their Selfcare platform without any hassle.

Below are the various weekly bundles and total monthly bundles you stand to enjoy.

Weekly Quota (GB)	USSD Display	Effective Monthly Data (GB)	Mandatory Weekly payment (GHc)	Validity
87.50	350GB @ GHc100/weekly	350	100	7 days
46.25	185GB @ GHc90/weekly	185	90	7 days
31.25	125GB @ GHc80/weekly	125	80	7 days
17.00	68GB @ GHc70/weekly	68	70	7 days
13.50	54GB @ GHc60/weekly	54	60	7 days
11.25	45GB @ GHc50/weekly	45	50	7 days
9.00	36GB @ GHc40/weekly	36	40	7 days
7.50	30GB @ GHc30/weekly	30	30	7 days

 

You may visit www.surflinegh.com to read more on the Terms and Conditions for this amazing offer specially made for you.

So why worry if you can’t pay outright for your monthly data bundle? On Surfline, you can still connect to the rest of the world, even if you are on a tight budget, with their Pay Weekly bundles.

To add to this article or start a conversation, join our forum to share your opinions with other readers. For stories of this sort and more, do well to log on to www.jbklutse.com or visit us on Facebook.

source https://www.jbklutse.com/introducing-surfline-pay-weekly-bundle/

How does social media affect teen’s mental health?

It probably comes as no surprise that more people, especially teenagers, spend most of their time on social media today than ever before. Moreover, many of us rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram to find and connect in today’s modern world.

Thus, social media has become an inseparable part of today’s life; therefore, it certainly has a relatively significant impact on their daily lives for good and bad. But, unfortunately, it is so easy to fall into the trap of using technology and social media without any intention as the device is suitable for our hands.

As per the Pew Research Center, social media is “nearly ubiquitous” in the lives of teens. 69% of adults and 81% of teens use social media in the US. Among them, 51% of teens visit social sites daily, and one in 4 teens is social media addicted, using a minimum of two different types of social media each day.

In addition, 45% of teenagers say they are online almost constantly, nearly doubled from the 2014-2015 survey where the number was only 24%. Teenagers are the primary users of social media sites. The main purpose of using social media by teenagers is for social interaction.

If you are curious about how social media affects a teen’s mental health, what may be the ways to escape from it, and how a teen can benefit from it, here is the article for you that helps you remove the thirst of your curiosity.

Why do teenagers use social media?

Social media has become a crucial and inseparable part of today’s teen life. Social media allows teenagers to create their own identities, helps to communicate with new people regardless of geographic barriers, and teaches them about a variety of subjects and builds social networks. As a result, today’s teens can barely live without using social media. In addition, teens use social media, especially for entertainment and self-expression.

Some teenagers try to indulge in the social media world, thinking they might get famous by unknowingly pushing into the social media trap by themselves. However, teenagers often feel that they have different persona online and feel more comfortable opening up about their present life, choices, or being more themselves away from in-person family and peers.

Teenagers are more fascinated about using social media or being constantly active on these platforms because these platforms can expose teens to current events, allow them to interact across geographic barriers, and teach them about a variety of subjects, including healthy behaviors.

In short, some general reasons that teenagers use social media regularly are for:

• Communicating with friends or loved ones once
• Joining or participating in group chats
• Exploring different new things or trends
• Meeting new people
• When they have nothing to do or just for killing the boredom
• The feeling of missing out on something if they are not always up to date with social media platforms

However, as per the article published in academia, 21% of teens felt down about themselves after looking at social media. Furthermore, teens’ social media usage has been thought to be correlated with depression, anxiety, worsening self-esteem, and loneliness.

How does social media affect teen’s mental health?

Social media usage can negatively affect teens by distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people’s lives, and peer pressure. So let’s dig into the topic for more detailed information.

Social comparison:

Social comparison is one of the biggest reasons that hamper teen’s mental health. Social media undermines teen’s mental health through social comparison. In addition, social media is the source of unnecessary tension that hampers teen’s mental health.

As we all know that it’s hard not to start comparing our lives to the filtered lives of others, even subconsciously. As a result, teenagers spend a lot of time scrolling feeds and observing the lives and images of their peers, which leads to constant comparisons and ultimately ends up damaging their self-esteem and falling into depression.

According to the report on the effect of social media on teenagers published by the pew research center, 43% of teenagers say they feel pressure to only post content on social media that makes them look good to others, and 26% of teens say these sites make them feel worse about their own life.

Sleep deprivation:

Social media is very addictive. Research published in science direct shows that 70% of people use social media after getting into bed, with almost 15% spending an hour or more doing so each night. In addition, as per the article published in NPR, 84% of teenagers have a mobile phone, and it has become an essential thing in a teen’s life.

As a result, teens carried their phones everywhere, even to the bed, and ended up scrolling social media for hours and hours, depriving their sleep, resulting in vamping or even higher risk of developing a sleep disorder like insomnia. In addition, heavier social media uses result in more inadequate sleep patterns, making teens yawning and sluggish the next day and hampers their study in the long term.

Depression and anxiety:

On the one hand, social media works as a depression killer for those, especially teens who are far from their parents for studying. Whenever they feel homesick or miss their family, social media is the only way that connects them. But, on the other hand, social media can be the cause of depression and anxiety. As per the article published in bhpalmbeach, it was determined that those who used social media the most were about 2.7 times more likely to be depressed than participants who used social media the least.

Social media and depression are parallel to each other, and if not handled properly, the result can be severe. For example, there can be the case where teens get cheated, or someone broke the trust they met online, which leaves teens feeling depressed. Unfortunately, this results in depression, loneliness, mood swings, anxiety, guilt, dishonesty, trust issues.

Online bullying and online scam:

Social media can harm teen’s mental health. Teenagers can easily fall into the trap of an online scam that may be seen as an attractive advertisement popped out while using any social media. Teenagers are not mature enough, and they do not think about the consequences they may face when they click such a site while browsing the social site and end up being the victim of an online scam.

Similarly, there can be the case where teens comment on an actor’s post or try to be more sarcastic but end up being the target of the trolls. In such a case, it affects teen’s mental health, loses confidence, and makes them isolated from online and real-world thinking; they are now a piece of jokes.

How to improve mental health when using social media?

Some tips to improve mental health when using social media are:

Monitor screen time:

One of the most efficient and easiest ways to improve mental health when using social media is monitoring screen time. If you are determined and willing to improve your screen time habit, then you must give it a go. Many apps are available online that help you set your screen time limits.

Take a break:

It’s hard to accept that today’s teens have become somewhat dependent on their phones and social media as a significant part of their life. Social media has taken over their day-to-day life. To have a good balance between mental health and social media, make a habit of ditching your phone or log out from all the social media for a day per week. Give yourself time, spend time with family and friends, go cycling, walking or for a short trip.

Be mindful of the “why”:

It would help if you questioned yourself why are you using social media? Whether to escape or to connect. If you are using it to escape from the real world, then is it worth it for you? If yes, then go ahead, but if you feel something is still missing out, look for help from your family or peers. Please share your thoughts, your problems with them and find the solution without getting into the negative trap of social sites.

And if you are using it to communicate with others and after you are done, is it still necessary to be active on social media without doing anything and scrolling your feed? One of the reasonable ways to improve your mental health without cutting off the social site entirely from your life is by identifying or limiting where and when to use social media.

Final thoughts:

Social media is very addictive. Heavy use of social media or being online 24/7 can harm the teen’s mental health. Even though social media can be dangerous, it can also be life-changing if you use it for the right things. It is necessary to remember that your social media experience could be completely transformed into a healthy screen time if you wanted to.

To add to this article or start a conversation, join our forum to share your opinions with other readers. For stories of this sort and more, do well to log on to www.jbklutse.com or visit us on Facebook.

source https://www.jbklutse.com/how-does-social-media-affect-teens-mental-health/

Underwater camera buyer’s guide

Anglers were used to dependent on their imaginations, and unless they were also divers, they never really knew if their imagination matched reality or not before the sonar radar system. Sonar can represent the structure but not an actual image like you might think that you’re dragging your bait along a rough bottom; it could be clamshells or ridges of sand. You might assume the bumps to be rocking to say that there is no replacement for the ability to see under the water.

While the value of seeing was readily recognized by ice fishers when underwater cameras came on the scene, and they become able to see what was going on underneath a hole, many boating anglers were unsure what useful purpose they might serve and viewed them with a jaundiced eye.

For ice anglers, it’s natural. Cameras are used to point straight at your lure to see how fish relate to it and how they react to various techniques. Enabling a visual hook-set on takes that might not be felt, cameras are also a slam-dunk for delicate bites.

Underwater cameras have opened up many possibilities. These cameras are built on the inventive spirit of anglers. They develop cameras with unique techniques for open water that contribute to increased catches in soft water. The primary use of an underwater camera in open water is examining the structure and confirming the identity of pixilated sonar images.

Besides anglers developing useful techniques for underwater camera technology, the cameras have gone through significant improvements, and now they are more advanced than when they were first introduced. So now it’s your time to revisit the issue if you’ve looked at them before and decided to wait until they were refined.

Water Clarity

First and foremost, for the successful use of an underwater camera, water clarity is crucial. Winter is the ideal environment for underwater cameras use as in winters; the lakes are covered with ice that prohibits wave action, which stirs up the particulate matter in the water and causes a significant decline in the camera’s performance.

Cameras become very limited during spring rains when algae blooms start to cloud waters in the nation’s southern tier. You can’t see through muddy water, at least not very far; lakes and reservoirs with much clearer water are friendly for underwater camera use.

In underwater cameras, lens aperture is not an issue as it is in digital or film cameras. Instead, most cameras have an angle of 90 to 92 degrees making the viewing angle more relevant. Also, with the length of the lens, you will get an ideal compromise between wide coverage and image size.

Two technical issues which affect image clarity are:

1. A matched camera
2. A monitor

The clarity of the image is attached with monitor resolution, which is measured in TV lines. The more resolution you have, the sharper and clearer an image would be. A better quality image will be produced when your unit’s camera and monitor output are matched. No matter how good the signal is, if you have a high-resolution camera and a low-resolution monitor, only a low-resolution image will be produced.

Light Capability

What you’ll see topside is affected by another thing which is light capability. Having low light capability affects the quality of the image. For example, when a heavy blanket of snow covers the ice at dusk, dawn, and winter, ambient light is pretty scarce. An auxiliary light is mandatory during these critical viewing times, but which light works best?

While buying the camera, you need to see what the structure is like and what fish are using it. The typical advice is to look for a camera with a low LUX rating when you’re buying a standard camcorder, but there is some ambiguity in that statement. You will almost always have to use some illumination for underwater cameras as the real issue is the lighting source.

That is why strong development emphasis is placed on the lighting source of underwater cameras by the manufacturers. In some cameras, infrared light is used as it is not visible to humans and may not fish either. But the infrared light doesn’t travel well in water as well. So it doesn’t spook the fish.

To fix this, a Spectral Response (SR) lighting system is introduced by Aqua-Vu’s. To take advantage of each color’s positive aspects, the SR system uses red and blue lights on a black and white camera. It’s Aqua-Vu’s position that red light is more effective for close-up images, and blue light travels farther underwater.

One of the great options in underwater cameras is spydro. Spydro is the smartest underwater fishing Camera that captures amazing HD footage from the tip of the line.

It has:

• perfect hydrodynamic behavior,
• advanced power management capabilities
• intuitive hands-free operation truly empowers

All of these things combine to contribute to a better fishing experience. In addition, the camera reveals what’s going on underwater.

When we look at the wide array of options in underwater cameras, it’s easy to see that this technology has come a long way. Our recommendation is to buy spydro as it comes with all the best features. Now it’s your time to enhance your fishing experience.

To add to this article or start a conversation, join our forum to share your opinions with other readers. For stories of this sort and more, do well to log on to www.jbklutse.com or visit us on Facebook.

source https://www.jbklutse.com/underwater-camera-buyers-guide/

MDaaS Global raises $2.3m to launch digital health solution SentinelX and expand across Nigeria

MDaaS Global, the healthtech company building and operating a network of modern, tech-enabled diagnostic centers across Nigeria, has raised $2.3 million in seed extension led by Newtown Partners via the Imperial Venture Fund, with participation from CRI Foundation, FINCA Ventures, Techstars, and Future Africa, among others.

With this funding, the company is launching ‘SentinelX‘, a digital health membership that champions preventive, personalized, and continuous care using proprietary technology. The extension brings MDaaS Global’s total funding to date to $3.7 million; in addition to the launch of SentinelX, this new funding will see the company rapidly scale its physical footprint across Nigeria to become the largest diagnostic chain in the country.

MDaaS founders (L-R) Oluwasoga Oni, Opeyemi Ologun and Genevieve Oni

Since its founding, MDaaS Global has focused on increasing access to critical diagnostic services for underserved and geographically challenged communities. SentinelX builds on that mission by democratizing access not only to technology-enabled primary care but also to comprehensive preventive care that helps members identify and address health risks before they become problems. SentinelX operates as an annual subscription-based membership starting at just N35,000 [approx. $7 a month].

Over the past two decades, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also referred to as lifestyle diseases, have risen dramatically in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by a growing incidence of cardiovascular risk factors like unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, hypertension, and diabetes.

And by 2030, NCDs are set to become the leading cause of mortality on the continent. SentinelX is poised to tackle this challenge head-on and empower members to take control of their long-term health.

To do this, the SentinelX membership includes:

• A comprehensive diagnostic screening to give members a 360-degree view of their current health status and identify potential health issues early.
• A customized Care Plan designed to address each member’s specific risk factors and personal health goals, from reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease to improving energy levels.
• 24/7 ongoing support from the Care Team for primary as well as urgent care (via the SentinelX mobile app, phone-based support, and in-person visits).
• Access to dieticians and fitness coaches to support members with lifestyle changes.
• Help navigating the Nigerian healthcare ecosystem, from specialist referrals to answering questions about health insurance.

Currently, in private beta and with a speedily growing waitlist, SentinelX is set to launch publicly in September 2021. Prospective members can register via the website to schedule their diagnostic screening which looks at more than 65 unique biomarkers to assess individual risk for a wide range of diseases, including cancers, diabetes, kidney disease, and heart diseases.

Clinical and family history, as well as demographic data, are also taken into consideration as part of the comprehensive analysis. Screenings are carried out at MDaaS-owned facilities, expediting a cost-efficient medical process for patients and effectively allowing the company to manage the full lifecycle and health journey of its customers.

Members receive monthly check-in calls from their dedicated Care Team to monitor progress, make adjustments to their Care Plans, and supply answers to questions that may arise – providing patients with a holistic and proactive approach to their healthcare.

Speaking on the announcement, Oluwasoga Oni, MDaaS Global’s CEO and Co-Founder said, “Unrestricted access to quality healthcare has always been our principal objective and the pandemic has compelled us to consider innovative ways of offering more proactive care.

This additional funding will propel our growth as we look to serve more people and in more ways.” He continues, “SentinelX combines a human touch – which is still needed, with advanced technology to provide faster, easier healthcare solutions for Nigerians.

But importantly, it makes preventive care more accessible and affordable. This will pave the way for lowering overall medical costs for patients as well as improving their health outcomes in the long run.”

Llew Claasen, Managing Partner at Newtown Partners believes, “Most consumers in sub-Saharan Africa receive suboptimal medical care because of infrastructure gaps, low physician density, delays in diagnostics, and a lack of health data visibility.

We think the physical diagnostic infrastructure that MDaaS is building out, coupled with the means to collect data and deliver value-added software services, has the potential to completely change the way that physicians, clinicians and pharmacists do their jobs and lead to better health outcomes for a huge number of previously underserved consumers.”

Founded in 2017 by Oluwasoga Oni, Opeyemi Ologun, Genevieve Barnard Oni, and Joseph McCord, MDaaS Global has launched 7 centers in Ibadan, Ilorin, Osogbo, Lagos, and Abuja, with plans to expand to 6 new cities in 2021.

To date, the healthcare company has provided diagnostic services to over 40,000 patients in underserved communities, and following its seed round in 2019, has grown its staff capacity to over 70. The company has also performed over 80,000 diagnostics tests across cardiology, radiology, neurology, laboratory, and general health checks.

MDaaS has expanded its referral network to include over 750 clinicians and has partnered with over 500 health facilities and 10 HMO networks. By 2025, the company aims to operate 100 centers across the continent and serve 1 million patients per year.

To conclude, Oluwasoga said, “For many years, healthcare in Nigeria and across Africa has been focused almost exclusively on treating diseases rather than preventing them in the first place. Access to diagnostics and preventive care is key to addressing the burgeoning NCD crisis; through SentinelX, we aim to leverage our expertise in affordable diagnostics and put the ‘health’ back in healthcare for Africa’s next billion.”

To add to this article or start a conversation, join our forum to share your opinions with other readers. For stories of this sort and more, do well to log on to www.jbklutse.com or visit us on Facebook.

source https://www.jbklutse.com/mdaas-global-raises-2-3m-to-launch-digital-health-solution-sentinelx-and-expand-across-nigeria/

Ghana’s Vice President Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia commends MTN for building 600 bed girl’s dormitory for TAMASCO

MTN Ghana Foundation has officially handed over a fully furnished 600-bed Girls Dormitory and an adjoining house mistress bungalow to the Tamale Senior High School at a cost of GHc2.805 million.

The new dormitory block is a two-storey building consisting of 21 rooms, washrooms, courtyard, laundry area. The facility will provide accommodation for 600 female students annually. The provision of the facility will help ease congestion and increase girls’ enrolment in the school. The house mistress bungalow comprises two bedrooms, living area, kitchen, toilet and bath.

A front view of the 600 bed Girls Dormitory Block for Tamale Secondary School

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Tamale, the CEO of MTN Ghana Selorm Adadevoh said, “The MTN Foundation invested in this project because we believe that young girls deserve a wholesome and safe environment to study and for many more young girls to have the opportunity of a decent education”.

“This year marks 25 years of Scancom PLC (also known as MTN) and it is exciting to mark our 25th year recognition with the opening of a 600-bed girls dormitory block that will no doubt change the lives of many of our young Ghanaian girls in the region,” he added.

The Vice President of Ghana, the South African High Commissioner, CEO of MTN Ghana and Board Member of MTN Ghana Foundation cutting the ribbon to formally open the dormitory.

The Vice President of Ghana, Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, who is an alumnus of Tamale Senior High School was the guest of honour. The Vice President in his keynote address highlighted the role the school plays in the region as the first Secondary in the northern part of Ghana and congratulated them for churning out great alumni who are contributing to the development of Ghana.

The Vice President also commended MTN Ghana Foundation for completing the structure in good time. “I broke the grounds for the start of work on the MTN Foundation-sponsored 600 bed dormitory. I am happy to be part of its commissioning. This project will go a long way to ease congestion in the dormitories. TAMASCO is grateful to you.”

The Vice President, South African High Commissioner and CEO of MTN Ghana inspecting one of the dormitories

The Headmaster of Tamale Senior High School, Rev. Edward Azika, expressed his gratitude to MTN Ghana Foundation for the project and promised that the facility would be put to good use by the girls.

The project, which started in 2019 came at the request of the then headmaster who wanted a better housing facility to accommodate the increasing number of girls enrolled in the school.

Tamale SHS is a mixed boarding educational institution with a total student population of two thousand eight hundred (2800), comprising one thousand six hundred boys (1600) and one thousand two hundred girls (1200).

The handing over ceremony coincided with the official launch of the 70^th Anniversary celebration of Tamale Secondary School. The dignitaries who attended the ceremony included the Zunglana Col. Rtd. Mahamoud Tahiru who was the Chairman of the occasion, the Northern Regional Minister, Hon Alhassan Saibu, South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Grace Jeanette Mason.

From management and staff of MTN Ghana, the team was led by the CEO Mr Selorm Adadevoh, MTN Ghana Foundation Board Member Mrs Nabila Williams, Chief Corporate Services Officer Mr Samuel Koranteng and Acting Chief Sales and Distribution Officer, Nii Adotey Mingle.

As part of the 25th anniversary of MTN Ghana, the MTN Foundation will be handing over several other facilities to brighten the lives of Ghanaians.

Her Excellency the South African High Commissioner, Grace Mason and Samuel Koranteng Chief Corporate Services Officer at MTN Ghana being ushered to the event.

Education is one of the three focus areas of the MTN Ghana Foundation. Since the establishment of the MTN Foundation in 2007, the Foundation has invested USD 13.5 million in 157 projects in its focus areas which are estimated to have impacted four million people across the country.

Out of the total number of projects, the Foundation has invested in 87 education projects and they include ultra-modern technology laboratory for the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA), a six-unit classroom block for Nhyiaeso Basic School and a three-unit classroom block and ICT Center for Mangoaso R.C Basic School.

The MTN Foundation has also built ICT Centers for the Takoradi Technical Institute, Koforidua Technical University, Bonsu Agric University and the Assistive Technology Unit at the University of Ghana. The Foundation has also provided over 1,000 scholarships to needy and brilliant students across the country under its Bright Scholarship scheme.

To add to this article or start a conversation, join our forum to share your opinions with other readers. For stories of this sort and more, do well to log on to www.jbklutse.com or visit us on Facebook.

source https://www.jbklutse.com/dr-alhaji-mahamudu-bawumia-commends-mtn-for-building-girls-dormitory/

ZEEPAY GHANA COMPANY LIMITED, completes one of Africa’s largest Series A fund raise at USD7.9 million to drive balance sheet growth.

Zeepay, Africa’s leading challenger Fintech today announces completion of its Series A.0 fund raise in a round led by Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P). The leading Ghanaian Fintech announced that it has completed a fundraise of USD7.9 million in its Series A.0 which was a hybrid of both equity and balance sheet funds to support its operations. Zeepay is a pioneer of digital remittances from the diaspora to mobile wallets, bank accounts and visa cards across 20 markets in Africa, where it either operates a mobile money business or has approved partnerships. The business is successfully transitioning into an integrated omni-channel digital payments and value-added financial services provider operating across the continent.

The fund raise was led by I&P, an impact investing group with over USD250m in assets under management in the amount of USD3 million, and supported by ARK Holdings, a privately held family investment portfolio on behalf of Andrew Takyi-Appiah (Managing Director) and Zoe Takyi-Appiah in the amount of USD800,000. GOODsoil VC, an African-focused early-stage venture capital firm committed a follow-on investment to the tune of USD800,000 and were advised by Obsidian Achernar, a financial services firm licensed by Bank of Ghana. The transaction advisors for this raise were Verdant Capital and JLD & MB legal Consultancy.

The company raised a debt of USD3.3 million to drive balance sheet activities mainly for liquidity purposes which was led by Absa Bank Ghana in the amount of USD1.8 million and USD1.5 million supported by First National Bank Ghana. Zeepay, prior to the fund raise had efficiently deployed a total of about USD450,000 since its go-to-market in May 2016 to achieve a cumulative average growth rate of about 146 percent during the 5 years leading to these transactions. An exciting story on the continent, full of hope and inspiring for the New African – that is the young African looking to chart their own path through start ups across the Continent.

Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Managing Director and Founder of Zeepay mentioned that “Our raise of USD7.9 million in Series A.0 gives Zeepay a strong capital table, ahead of closing our Series A.5 in the coming months. I am delighted to mention that the raise is coming at the time when we have successfully moved into our new Commercial Property in Accra.”

Mr. Takyi–Appiah further mentioned that “Our performance, I believe is attributable to the Grace of God. Indeed, it is my wish that our Founding Chairman, Dr. Anthony Kwasi Appiah, was here today as we sign this deal. He played a pivotal role in getting the company to where it is today. May his soul continue to rest in peace. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Kwame Achampong-Kyei and the GLICO Group for their diligent support over the last 5years.”

According to Mr. Paa Kwesi Yankey, the Chairman of Zeepay, “Our strategy remains to drive our remittance to digital assets agenda across Africa and the Caribbean and we are excited by the rate of expansion. We have a number of strategic acquisitions lined up and anticipate closing before year end”. “We look forward to being able to expand our operations beyond our current 20 countries and increase our active 30-day business from 13 markets to 20 plus markets across Africa. Indeed, what we celebrate today could not have been possible without the passing of the Payment Systems Act 2019, which has been a very progressive Government initiative.”

Ruth Amenu, Chairperson, Zeepay UK mentioned “the additional funding is a landmark for a wholly owned African Company, and a testament of how technology has democratised the world to give Zeepay a seat at the table. For a business that started from such humble beginnings, this story is remarkable and inspiring. It is my prayer that this motivates the African Youth that “It is possible to succeed when you put your mind to it”.

Baafour Otu-Boateng, Investment Director at I&P remarked, “Zeepay has proven itself unique in its ability to take a leading position in the rapidly growing world of African fintechs while delivering profitability. We are excited to partner with a management team that has demonstrated a robust track record of delivering innovative products and services that transform the remittance and mobile money ecosystems. As an impact investor, we look forward to supporting Zeepay’s remarkable growth story as the company deepens financial inclusion for millions of users across Africa.”

Ashley Thompson-MacCarthy, CEO at Obsidian Achernar remarked, “We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Andrew and the incredible Zeepay team, as they scale and roll out mobile money and remittance services across the continent. With remittance flows exhibiting considerable resiliency in times of pandemic-induced disruption, Zeepay has grown from strength-to-strength and the current fund-raise is a testament to the Company’s value and potential. As an Africa-focused financial services firm, we are driven by an unyielding commitment to contribute to the creation and furtherance of lasting economic growth and development on the continent and are excited to work together with an entity which shares our ethos.

Merene Benyah, Founding Partner of JLD & MB Legal Consultancy, mentioned – “We are extremely proud of our client Zeepay for this landmark raise and pleased to have supported Zeepay since its inception in 2014. Zeepay is a strong brand and comes to the transaction with a lot of experience and insight. The successful close of both debt and equity at the time when most markets have contracted is a strong indication of the trajectory that the company is on. We believe their success today will put Ghana once again on the world map and confirms the Zeepay as a strong contender in the Fintech space.

According to Verdant Capital, Zeepay has the potential to transform how Africans implement payments across borders and domestically and how these payments are integrated into value-added services such as credit and insurance. Zeepay has built a formidable market position in its anchor market of Ghana, which it is now replicating in synergistic markets across the Continent. Verdant expects this strategy to continue to drive rapid revenue growth, profitability and financial inclusion.

About Zeepay

Zeepay is the fastest growing mobile financial services company across Africa with operations in Ghana and the United Kingdom and terminating to 20 countries across Africa with termination agreements in over 90 jurisdictions globally. We specialize in remittance termination into mobile wallets and are completely network- and partner-agnostic. We are majority Ghanaian owned company and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority – FCA #592538 and in Ghana by Bank of Ghana – PSD/ZGL/20/03 under the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019 (Act 987). Zeepay supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and is considered as a Financial Inclusion Company positioned to improve last mile access. Visit myzeepay.com for more information.

About I&P

Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is a pioneering impact investing group entirely dedicated to financing and supporting start-ups and medium-sized enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The team of approximately 100 people is based in 10 African hubs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Uganda), in Paris and in Washington D.C. I&P has partnered with more than 150 companies operating in some fifteen African countries in a wide range of sectors. I&P brings long-term financing as well as strategic, managerial and technical support. As an impact investor, I&P’s mission is to maximize the societal impact of its partner companies and contribute to dynamic and inclusive growth in Africa.

About Verdant Capital

Pan-African Expertise | Global Reach

Verdant Capital is a specialist investment bank and investment manager operating on a Pan-African basis. Verdant Capital specializes in sectors including financial technology and financial inclusion.

About JLD & MB

JLD & MB Legal Consultancy is a top-tier corporate and commercial law firm with decades of experience advising global and local clients on some of Ghana’s highest profile transactions.

The Firm provides an integrated business and corporate law service with a multi- disciplinary team of lawyers.  Our primary objective is to produce work to the highest international standards, and we pride ourselves on our responsiveness, seamless delivery of client services and multi-jurisdictional experience.

We provide innovative and solution-oriented advisory services across several key practice areas including: Banking and Finance, Corporate and Commercial Transactions, Energy and Natural Resources, Infrastructure, Property and Transportation and Business Support Services.

source https://www.jbklutse.com/zeepay-announces-completion-of-its-series-a-0-fund-raise/