Ghana Rejects MTN Ghana’s GH¢20m Support for Xenophobia Victims

The Government of Ghana has declined a proposed GH¢20 million support package from MTN Ghana for Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying it has already made adequate financial provision for their evacuation and reintegration.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following reports that MTN Ghana intended to provide financial assistance to citizens returning from South Africa.

The proposed intervention had been publicly discussed by MTN Ghana Board Chairman Dr Ishmael Yamson.

According to the Foreign Ministry, however, government had already communicated to MTN that it would not require the proposed financial support.

“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the Ministry said.

GOVERNMENT SAYS FUNDING IS ALREADY AVAILABLE

The Foreign Ministry said the Mahama administration had made adequate provision for the evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the violence in South Africa.

Government therefore considered additional financial assistance from MTN unnecessary for the current programme.

The Ministry said its position had already been communicated directly to Dr Yamson and MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer when they met Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on August 14.

The meeting took place before the GH¢20 million intervention became the subject of widespread media reports.

The Ministry said government remains committed to financing humanitarian evacuations and providing reintegration assistance to citizens brought back from South Africa.

“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 Ministry said.

MTN WANTED TO HELP RETURNEES REBUILD

MTN Ghana’s proposed intervention went beyond providing immediate assistance to people arriving home.

Dr Yamson had explained that the company initially considered committing GH¢10 million to support Ghanaian returnees before deciding to double the amount to GH¢20 million.

The intention was to create a broader support mechanism that could help affected Ghanaians rebuild their lives and livelihoods after returning from South Africa.

MTN Ghana had acknowledged that it should have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier over the proposed intervention.

The government has nevertheless thanked the telecommunications company for the gesture while maintaining that its existing arrangements are sufficient to manage the evacuation and reintegration programme.

GHANA PROMISES FULL ACCOUNT OF EVACUATION COSTS

The Foreign Ministry has also promised to disclose how much government eventually spends on the evacuation exercise.

Once the operation is completed, the Ministry said it would publish a comprehensive account of the total cost involved.

The disclosure, according to the government, will be made in the interest of transparency and accountability.

The commitment could provide the public with a clearer picture of how much Ghana has spent transporting citizens from South Africa and supporting them after their return.

It could also provide context for government's decision to decline the GH¢20 million proposed by MTN Ghana.

GOVERNMENT MOVES TO REASSURE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES

The Ministry also appeared conscious of the wider commercial significance of the decision.

MTN Ghana is part of the South Africa headquartered MTN Group and is one of Ghana’s largest telecommunications companies.

Government stressed that declining the proposed support should not be interpreted as hostility towards MTN or companies with foreign ownership.

It said Ghana would continue working to provide a favourable environment for international businesses operating in the country.

“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 Ministry said.

The assurance is significant because the humanitarian crisis involves xenophobic attacks in South Africa while one of the companies offering assistance to Ghanaian victims is itself part of a South African headquartered multinational group.

Government appears determined to separate the treatment of Ghanaian citizens caught up in the violence from Ghana’s wider economic and commercial relationship with international investors.

A HUMANITARIAN OPERATION STILL UNDERWAY

Ghana has been evacuating citizens from South Africa as concerns grow over attacks targeting foreign nationals and African migrants.

The government says its priority remains the safety of Ghanaians and their successful reintegration after returning home.

For now, the GH¢20 million proposed by MTN Ghana will not form part of that effort.

Instead, the government says the evacuation and reintegration programme will continue using resources already provided by the state and its existing partners.

The eventual publication of the total cost of the operation will provide the first detailed indication of the financial scale of Ghana’s response.

MTN Ghana’s offer, meanwhile, represents one of the most significant corporate interventions proposed since the evacuation operation began.

Government has thanked the company for the gesture.

But its answer remains clear.

The offer will not be accepted.

SOURCE NOTE: This report is based on the August 26, 2026 statement by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reporting by Leadership, MyJoyOnline, Graphic Online, Citi Newsroom and other Ghanaian media.

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