Yvonne Okoro water project in Wongu3 Yvonne Okoro on Tuesday brought joy to the people of Wungu in Walewale, a community in the Northern Region. The actress commissioned a borehole project to provide water for the small village.

Wungu, for a very long time had battled with water scarcity with natives including school children walking several kilometres in search of water every day.

As part of Yvonne’s annual charity exercise, she decided to go to the aid of the community by funding the drilling of a borehole. Business activities in the community on Tuesday came to standstill for a while to give the actress a rousing welcome for the commissioning ceremony which paved way for the borehole to be used.

Commissioning the project, Yvonne said, “It gives me joy to offer a supporting hand to those who need it in society. I hope this project will go a long way to impact positively on the lives of the people of Wungu especially the children and women. I want use this opportunity to thank God and everyone else who supported this project. I also thank African World Airline (AWA) for bringing us this far for a successful commissioning ceremony.”

Yvonne and her team including her friend, TV personality and lawyer, Sandra Ankobiah had earlier paid a courtesy call to the chief of Tamale, Naa Dakpena Alhassan and the chief of Wungu at his palace.

She also visited West Mamprusi District offices and Daa-Gyei Academy, where she advised children at the school to take their lessons serious.

Amidst cultural performances by the Wungu Cultural Troop, natives including, school children as well as other actors from the northern part of the country came out in their numbers to support the Ghana Must Go actress to commission the borehole.

Also in attendance were Hon. Dr. Sagre Bambangi MP for Walewale and Wuni David D, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the West Mamprusi District, who assured the actress, the community will take a good care of the borehole. “I extend my sincere gratitude to you for deciding to come here. It is my responsibility as the DCE of the West Mamprusi District to provide water for the people and if you have come to provide water for the people, we are grateful…I want to assure you that we will take good care of the borehole and I am also taking this opportunity to ask others to learn from your kind gesture,” Wuni David added when Yvonne visited his office.

Mastercard, a leading global payment technology company, recently concluded the second edition of the Fraud and Cyber Resilience Forum event in Accra, Ghana. This year’s event provided a vital platform for industry stakeholders to converge and address pressing cybersecurity challenges. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, the second edition saw increased interest and participation, with experts and professionals gathering to discuss and tackle the evolving cyber risks faced by organizations in today’s dynamic digital landscape.

With cybercrime on the rise, including identity theft and phishing, Mastercard prioritizes fraud prevention and cybersecurity worldwide, including in Ghana. This commitment becomes even more critical given that Ghana recorded GH¢49.5 million in direct financial losses through cyber fraud activities between January and June of 2023, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to safeguard the financial services industry and government from attacks. In response to these challenges, Mastercard is not only investing in innovation and collaborations, but also providing an avenue for stakeholders to discuss best practices to ensure cyber resilience in the country.
“In Ghana, the proliferation of digital services has brought unprecedented convenience to consumers and businesses alike. However, with this increased connectivity comes an alarming rise in cyber threats, posing significant risks to both financial institutions and their consumers,” said Bossman Kwapong, The Country Director for Ghana at Mastercard. “In light of these challenges, Mastercard recognizes the critical role it plays in fortifying Ghana’s digital infrastructure. Hosting events like the Fraud and Cyber Resilience Forum is not just a proactive measure—it’s a necessary step towards enhancing awareness, collaboration, and resilience within the Ghanaian ecosystem.”
The forum delved into the most recent tactics employed by cybercriminals, their targeted assets, and the underlying motivations behind their attacks. With a particular emphasis on the financial services sector, the forum provided an extensive examination of the local cyber threat environment, recent instances of fraud, and effective strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities that could affect business profitability. Additionally, Mastercard showcased its state-of-the-art fraud detection solutions, including the Decision Intelligence system, which leverages advanced technologies to swiftly identify and thwart fraudulent activities in real-time, safeguarding customers’ accounts and transactions.
Stakeholders at the event expressed a shared commitment to fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and proactive measures to mitigate cyber risks within Ghana’s financial ecosystem. The consensus reached underscored the importance of ongoing dialogue, collective action, and continued investment in robust cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard against emerging threats. As participants departed the event, they left with a renewed sense of purpose and determination to join forces in strengthening cyber resilience and promoting a secure digital future for Ghana.