MTN Ghana commits GH¢20m to support returnees from South Africa over xenophobic attacks
MTN Ghana has committed GH¢20 million to support Ghanaians returning from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks.
The company’s Board Chairman, Dr. Ishmael Yamson, says the intervention is aimed at helping the returnees rebuild their lives and livelihoods, not just providing short-term relief.
Speaking to Joy News on Thursday, August 20, Dr. Yamson disclosed that MTN Ghana initially set aside GH¢10 million to welcome the returnees, but later doubled the amount after realizing that immediate assistance would not be enough to address their long-term needs.
According to him, the additional GH¢10 million will be combined with the initial allocation to establish a dedicated fund to help the returnees restart their lives.
Dr. Yamson admitted that MTN Ghana should have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier and expressed regret over the delay in rolling out the support, stressing that it should not be seen as a lack of concern.
“We will do it. We’ll do it in a big way. We’ll do it in a way that will make more meaning,” he said.
He also strongly condemned the attacks in South Africa and distanced MTN Ghana from the violence.”
I condemn it. I completely dissociate MTN Ghana from it. We have nothing to do with it,” he stated.
Dr. Yamson acknowledged that the company had been slower than some other corporate organizations in making its intervention public, saying, “It’s something that I regret, because we should have moved faster.”
He commended other companies and organizations, including Telecel and The Church of Pentecost, that have already supported the returnees.
The renewed attacks in South Africa have targeted African migrants, including Ghanaians, with two Ghanaian nationals reportedly killed in separate incidents.
Government has since evacuated over 1,000 Ghanaian nationals who felt unsafe and has introduced measures to support their reintegration.
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