The Ghanaian government has declined a proposed GH¢20 million donation from MTN Ghana to support Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision in a statement issued by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Ablakwa on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
According to the ministry, it became aware of the proposed donation through media reports indicating that MTN Ghana planned to establish a fund for Ghanaian victims of the attacks.
Although the government commended MTN Ghana for the gesture, it said it had chosen not to accept the offer because adequate arrangements had already been made to fund the evacuation and reintegration of affected citizens.
“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the ministry stated.
The ministry said the decision had already been communicated to MTN Ghana’s Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, and the company’s Chief Executive Officer when they met with Ablakwa on August 14.
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It added that the government remained committed to providing humanitarian and financial assistance to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa.
The ministry also pledged to release a detailed account of the total cost of the evacuation exercise once it is concluded, stressing that this would promote transparency and accountability.
The proposed intervention reportedly followed an earlier plan by MTN Ghana to spend GH¢10 million on receiving Ghanaian returnees.
The company was subsequently said to have increased the planned assistance to GH¢20 million to create a fund aimed at supporting the returnees’ longer-term reintegration.
Yamson was also reportedly quoted as acknowledging that MTN Ghana should have consulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before announcing the initiative.
However, the reported proposal could not be independently confirmed by PUNCH Online, while MTN Ghana had not issued an official statement on the matter as of the time of filing.
The development comes amid renewed xenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa, including Ghanaians, leading to government-backed evacuation efforts.
MTN had previously provided assistance to Nigerians evacuated from South Africa during an earlier wave of xenophobic attacks.
The company donated free SIM cards and data worth ₦50,000 to returnees and also pledged ₦100,000 for each returnee.
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