MTN Ghana has announced a GH¢20 million support package to assist Ghanaians returning from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks, with the company’s Board Chairman describing the intervention as a long-term strategy to help returnees rebuild their lives and livelihoods .
Dr Ishmael Yamson, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, disclosed the initiative during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, revealing that the company had initially set aside GH¢10 million as a “welcome back” package for the returnees .
However, the board later reconsidered the approach after recognising that immediate assistance alone would not adequately address the long-term needs of those affected.
“When the issue broke, I can tell you, the board immediately decided that we would set aside ¢10 million as a welcome back,” Dr Yamson stated. “But we then later realised that, look, okay, you give them data, you give them this, and then when they have spent it, what next?”
A Fund for Rebuilding Lives
Dr Yamson explained that many returnees were only permitted to bring two suitcases when leaving South Africa, making the need for comprehensive reintegration support particularly urgent .
The company subsequently added another GH¢10 million to the initial allocation to establish a fund that would help returnees restart their lives. He described the approach as creating a more permanent solution rather than short-term relief .
“So why don’t we do that? So that ¢10 million that we were going to use to welcome them, that putting that into action was delayed because we had to draw it back, because we needed to add an additional ¢10 million that we would put in the fund,” he explained .
Apology for Delayed Response
Dr Yamson admitted that MTN Ghana should have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier in the process and expressed regret over the delay in publicly condemning the attacks, despite expectations for the company to speak out given its size and influence in Ghana .
“I apologise that we haven’t done that. I think the mistake that we made was not to have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately about this,” he said .
He stressed that the delay should not be interpreted as a lack of concern for affected Ghanaians, noting that the company had held multiple discussions with the sector minister regarding the initiative.
“I know that sometimes when you are big, your internal bureaucracy can also delay a few things. But we have not forgotten. 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 assured .
Condemnation of Violence and Call for Calm
Dr Yamson strongly condemned the xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least two Ghanaian nationals in separate incidents linked to the attacks .
“I condemn it. I completely dissociate MTN Ghana from it. We have nothing to do with it,” he stated emphatically. “What is happening in South Africa is bad. And I can tell you that we are angry” .
He cautioned against calls for retaliatory attacks on South African businesses operating in Ghana, arguing that such actions would ultimately harm Ghanaian interests. He emphasised that MTN Ghana is a Ghanaian corporate entity with significant local ownership, noting that over 120,000 Ghanaians are shareholders and approximately 98 percent of its employees are Ghanaian .
“If you target MTN Ghana, you can target it, but at the end of the day, you are destroying something that you should protect,” he warned .
Dr Yamson also highlighted MTN Ghana’s contribution to the national economy, describing the company as “the biggest taxpayer in this country” .
Background: Escalating Crisis and Government Response
The announcement comes as the Ghanaian government continues to evacuate citizens from South Africa following violent anti-immigrant protests that began in early 2026. More than 1,300 Ghanaians have been evacuated since May, with the government fully financing the repatriation exercise .
The violence has been driven by groups presenting themselves as anti-immigrant vigilantes, resulting in injuries, looting, destruction of property, and the forced takeover of foreign-owned businesses . Ghana has formally protested the violence through diplomatic channels and has petitioned the African Union to intervene, calling for a continental response to the recurring targeting of African migrants .
In response to the crisis, the government has introduced a comprehensive reintegration package for returnees. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed that each returnee would receive a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 transport allowance, alongside NADMO relief items and free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration .
A Presidential Task Force on Reintegration has also been established to assess the skills of returning citizens and connect them with employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, and vocational training. Private sector partnerships secured through the task force have already generated 200 job placements, including positions at Engineers and Planners Limited, Telecel Ghana, and AirtelTigo .
Dr Yamson commended other organisations that had already provided support to returnees, including Telecel and the Church of Pentecost, which provided shelter, meals, and essential support services to stranded Ghanaians for more than two months while they awaited evacuation .
“For those who did it, Telecel and the others, I really congratulate them. Pentecost Church, I congratulate them,” he said .
