Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected a GH¢20 million donation from MTN Ghana intended for Ghanaian victims of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Ghanaian business news
The Ministry says it became aware of media reports suggesting the telecom giant was preparing to donate the amount, with publications attributing the announcement to an interview granted by MTN Board Chairman, Dr. Ishmael Yamson.
While commending MTN for the gesture, government says it must respectfully decline.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the Mahama Administration has made adequate provision for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians and is therefore unable to accept the offer.
The Ministry disclosed that this position had earlier been directly conveyed to the Board Chair and CEO of MTN when they called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), on August 14, 2026.
“Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana remains fully committed to current humanitarian evacuations and reintegration financial support for every Ghanaian brought back from harm’s way,” the statement said.
The Ministry assured the public that it will present a comprehensive account of the total cost of evacuations as soon as the exercise is concluded, in the interest of transparency and accountability.
It added that 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.
“The welfare of all Ghanaians remains our utmost priority,” the Ministry stressed.
