Vodafone has assured Ghanaians of its continued support following the government’s decision to partially lock down the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions as part of measures to minimise the spread of the Coronavirus.
According to the company, it recognised that it has a critical role to play as an essential service provider during this pandemic and will therefore maintain reduced operating hours of key retail shops in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.
Starting Monday 30th March 2020, some selected Vodafone retail shops in the Greater and Ashanti regions will be open, from 9am to 2pm, every Monday to Saturday.
The shops include Cantonments, Dansoman, A&C Mall, Achimota, Junction Mall and Madina retail shops in the Greater Accra Region; as well as the Kumasi Mall and Adum retail shops, in the Ashanti Region and all other shops in these two regions will remain temporarily closed.
Commenting on the modified working hours, Patricia Obo-Nai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone Ghana said, “Our most important task is for our customers to stay home during this period and conveniently use our digital channels including My Vodafone App for all their transactions and enquiries.”
“The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. We have also put in place all the needed measures to reduce the risk of exposure to customers and staff in our retail shops across the country. Our commitment is to continue to positively impact the lives of people, businesses and communities through innovation and technology during this pandemic,” she said
Mrs Obo-Nai said Vodafone was committed to supporting government institutions and MDAs in continuing to work during this period with zero rated links and calls to the National COVID-19 response number (112), adding that Ghanaians could also have free access to government’s websites for daily updates on COVID-19, via Vodafone.
To enable government carry out its work seamlessly, the CEO said Vodafone had committed to giving employees of selected ministries and government institutions, free access to their online portals via Vodafone’s network, adding that Vodafone had supported the Ministries of Health and Communications with Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) and airtime for contact tracing and quarantine activities.
In addition, Mrs Obo-Nai stated that Vodafone had provided internet connectivity and devices to the Greater Accra Regional Teleconsultation Centre (TCC) at Ridge Hospital, to enable the centre provide free psychological support to families of students in locked-down countries as well as infected Ghanaians.
“With funding from its Group Foundation, Vodafone is in the process of activating its pioneering health line call centre, which will be staffed with 20 specialist doctors to support government by giving guidance and accurate health information about the virus,” she said.
Mrs Obo-Nai Vodafone had made changes to some of its products to offer customers relief during this difficult period. These include more data allocation on its Too Moorch bundle; unlimited browsing experience on fixed broadband; 200% bonus on airtime purchased through Vodafone Cash; and no disconnection of post-paid enterprise customers in the month of March.
BY TIMES REPORTER
