Ghana govt turns down MTN’s $1.8m aid for xenophobic attack victims

The Ghanaian government has declined a GHS20 million ($1.8 million) donation from MTN Ghana to support citizens affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that the government had already provided enough funds for the evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians, making the donation unnecessary.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa explained that the decision was not meant to dismiss MTN Ghana’s gesture but was based on the government’s existing arrangements to manage the humanitarian response.

The ministry said media reports on the donation followed comments by MTN Ghana Board Chairman, Dr. Ishmael Yamson, who spoke about the company’s intended contribution.

“Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer. However, we respectfully decline,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the government’s position had already been communicated to Yamson and the MTN Chief Executive Officer during a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister on August 14.

Ghana said it had been facilitating the evacuation of citizens caught up in the violence in South Africa and providing financial support for their reintegration upon return.

The ministry added that a comprehensive account of the total cost of the evacuation exercise would be published once completed, as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability.

“The government will continue to create the best business ecosystem for all international brands operating in Ghana to succeed, irrespective of which country their businesses originated from,” it stated, in a bid to reassure foreign investors.

The rejection comes as Ghana and other African countries continue to respond to attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa. The violence has raised concerns over the safety of African migrants and businesses on the continent.

MTN Ghana’s proposed GHS20 million contribution would have been one of the largest corporate interventions linked to the crisis. However, the government said it preferred to rely on its own funding and arrangements with local partners.

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