The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally declined a reported GHS20 million donation from MTN Ghana intended to support Ghanaian victims of recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, stating that government has already made adequate financial provision to cover ongoing evacuation and reintegration efforts.
The Ministry’s response follows media reports suggesting that the telecommunications giant was preparing to make the donation, with the announcement attributed to an interview granted by MTN’s Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson.
According to the Ministry, it became aware of the reports through these media publications before issuing an official position on the matter. In its statement, the Ministry was careful to acknowledge MTN’s intentions in positive terms, even as it turned down the offer.
It described the company’s gesture as commendable, framing its decision to decline not as a rejection of goodwill but as a reflection of the state’s own capacity to shoulder the costs involved.
“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer; however, we respectfully decline, as sufficient provision has already been made for the evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Position Was Communicated Directly to MTN Leadership
The Ministry disclosed that this stance was not a new development prompted solely by the recent media reports, but one that had already been communicated directly to MTN’s leadership weeks earlier.
According to the statement, the Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of MTN had called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on August 14, 2026, during which the government’s position on the matter was made clear.
This detail suggests that the public clarification issued by the Ministry was intended primarily to correct the impression created by recent media coverage, rather than to announce a new decision, with officials keen to establish that government’s position had been consistent since the earlier meeting with MTN’s top executives.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Evacuation Costs
Beyond addressing the MTN offer specifically, the Ministry used the statement to reaffirm its broader commitment to financing the humanitarian evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the xenophobic violence in South Africa.
It stated that government remains fully committed to bearing the financial responsibility for every Ghanaian brought back from harm’s way, covering both the evacuation process itself and subsequent reintegration support once affected individuals return home.
The Ministry did not, in this statement, provide a running total of costs incurred so far, but it committed to eventual public disclosure.
It said a comprehensive account of the total cost of the evacuation exercise would be presented to the public once the exercise concludes, describing this as necessary to uphold transparency and accountability in how public funds are being deployed to support affected citizens.
Broader Message on Ghana’s Investment Climate
The statement also carried a wider message directed at the international business community operating in Ghana. Government reiterated its commitment to maintaining a favourable business environment for all international brands present in the country.
Regardless of their country of origin, a remark that appeared aimed at reassuring investors that the MTN episode should not be read as government distancing itself from corporate goodwill gestures in general, but rather as a specific decision tied to the state’s existing financial arrangements for this particular humanitarian response.
Government closed its statement by restating that the welfare of all Ghanaians remains its foremost priority, tying the MTN decision back to its broader narrative of taking full ownership of the evacuation and reintegration effort without reliance on corporate donations for this specific intervention.
Xenophobic Attacks and Evacuation Efforts
The statement comes amid heightened concern over the safety of Ghanaian nationals in South Africa following a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, in various parts of the country.
“The welfare of all Ghanaians remains our foremost priority, and government will continue to take full responsibility for their safety and wellbeing.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In response, the Ghanaian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been coordinating evacuation efforts to bring affected citizens home, alongside reintegration support intended to help returnees resettle in Ghana.
The Ministry’s decision to publicly clarify its position on the MTN donation reflects the sensitivity surrounding how the evacuation exercise is being financed and communicated to the public, particularly at a time when the scale and cost of the operation remain of significant public interest.
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