Businesses asked to integrate purpose-driven strategies in operations

The Chief Executive Officer of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, has called on businesses to integrate what she described as ‘purpose-driven strategies and sustainable practices’ into their operations to enhance socioeconomic impact. 

“A purpose-driven culture is essential for organisational success. Viewing purpose as a waste of investment is a risk to business sustainability. 

Purpose goes beyond making profit. We must invest in developing our host communities, upskilling the people we work with, be interested in how we grow technological resources in our communities and how we engage local people in employment,” she said.

Speaking as a panel member at the 7th annual leaders on purpose CEO summit in New York with the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, she spoke on the theme: “‘Shared Planet, Shared Future and Shared Purpose - Building Future-Fit Economies for Generations to come”. 

Ms Obo-Nai urged business leaders to prioritise purpose and social impact in their operations. 

On the role of technology in sustainable development, Ms Obo-Nai highlighted the critical need to expand connectivity infrastructure through collaboration to bridge the digital divide. 

“Expanding infrastructure and making it future-proof is critical. We believe participating in infrastructure sharing and co-investment programmes is one of the most effective ways to close the existing digital gap,” she said. 

Tech impact

The Telecel CEO explained again that improving access to digital connectivity has a much broader impact as Telecel Ghana seeks to lead Africa’s digital transformation. 

“Our belief is that we can empower people to use digital products and services to better their lives and businesses. 

So, it's not just about how we connect businesses or digitalise business processes, but how we empower people's lives through digital solutions”, she indicated. 

She said Telecel was implementing a robust sustainability strategy beyond its core operations to lessen its environmental impact including the increment of the number of solar-powered exchanges from two to five to reduce both its carbon footprint and reliance on the national grid.  

Ms Obo-Nai also noted that Telecel Ghana had planted about 14,000 seedlings since 2020 with a goal of adding 100,000 trees to the nation’s forest cover by 2030.