Gov’t declines MTN’s GH¢20m offer for Ghanaian victims of South Africa xenophobic attacks

The Government of Ghana has declined a GH¢20 million support offer from MTN Ghana for Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government had already made adequate financial provisions for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians returning from South Africa.

The decision comes as Ghana continues its government-led evacuation exercise following renewed anti-foreigner violence in parts of South Africa, which has affected Ghanaian nationals.

“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the Ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 26.

MTN Ghana had announced a GH¢20 million support package to help Ghanaians returning from South Africa rebuild their lives and livelihoods following the attacks.

The offer was publicly associated with comments by MTN Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, who had said the company wanted its intervention to go beyond immediate relief and support the long-term recovery of the returnees.

According to the Ministry, the government’s position had already been communicated directly to Dr Yamson and the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana when they called on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on August 14.

Ghana has so far evacuated more than 1,000 nationals from South Africa under a two-phase exercise.

The second phase, which began in July, has continued with returnees arriving in batches, including 87 nationals who arrived in Accra on August 17.

The government has also introduced a reintegration package for returnees, including financial support to help them rebuild their livelihoods.

The package announced in July included a GH¢5,500 grant for each evacuee, comprising a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and GH¢500 for travel and transport expenses.

The Ministry said it remains fully committed to providing humanitarian evacuation and reintegration support to every Ghanaian brought back from harm’s way.