MTN Ghana has committed GH¢20 million to support Ghanaians returning from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks, with the telecommunications company shifting its focus from immediate relief to long-term assistance.
The company’s Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, disclosed the initiative during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, explaining that MTN Ghana initially intended to spend GH¢10 million on welcoming the returnees.
According to Dr Yamson, the company subsequently reconsidered the plan after recognising that short-term assistance would do little to address the challenges returnees would face after arriving in Ghana.
He said the company wanted its intervention to help affected Ghanaians establish themselves again, particularly those who had been forced to leave South Africa with limited belongings.
MTN Ghana therefore decided to double its initial commitment, allocating an additional GH¢10 million to create a dedicated fund aimed at helping the returnees rebuild their livelihoods.
Dr Yamson said the revised approach was based on the need to provide meaningful and sustainable support rather than assistance that would be exhausted shortly after the returnees arrived.
He acknowledged, however, that the company should have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier about the initiative.
Dr Yamson explained that internal processes contributed to the delay but insisted that MTN Ghana remained committed to supporting the affected Ghanaians.
He said the company had maintained discussions with the relevant sector minister and stressed that the delay should not be interpreted as indifference towards the returnees.
“We have not forgotten,” he said, adding that MTN Ghana intended to implement the programme on a significant scale and in a manner that would have a lasting impact.
The intervention comes against the backdrop of renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has affected African migrants, including Ghanaians. Ghanaian authorities have evacuated nationals who felt threatened and have begun measures to assist them with their return and reintegration.
The violence has also resulted in the deaths of two Ghanaian nationals in separate incidents, according to reports from Ghanaian authorities and state-linked sources.
Dr Yamson condemned the attacks and said MTN Ghana had no association with the violence. He also expressed concern over the welfare of Ghanaians affected by the unrest.
The MTN Ghana chairman further acknowledged that the company had been slower than some other organisations to publicly announce its support.
He commended organisations that had moved quickly to assist the returnees, including Telecel and the Pentecost Church.
Dr Yamson maintained that MTN Ghana’s GH¢20 million intervention would go beyond an initial welcome exercise, with the ultimate objective of helping affected Ghanaians regain economic stability and rebuild their lives after their return.
