The Government of Ghana has declined a nearly $2 million support offer from MTN Ghana for Ghanaians affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that government has already made adequate financial provisions for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of affected nationals.
The Ministry, in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, noted that it had become aware of media reports suggesting that MTN Ghana was preparing to donate GH¢20 million to support Ghanaian victims of the attacks. The government said while it appreciated the gesture from the telecommunications company, it had decided not to accept the offer.
The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms that the Mahama Administration has made adequate provision for ongoing evacuations and reintegration of Ghanaians and is therefore unable to accept this offer.” the statement read.
The reported offer was attributed to MTN Ghana Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, who disclosed the company’s plans in an interview with Joy News on August 20. He explained that MTN had initially set aside GH¢10 million as a welcome-back package for the returnees but later doubled the amount after determining that immediate relief alone would not adequately address their longer-term needs.
According to Dr Yamson, the expanded GH¢20 million was intended to establish a fund that would help returning Ghanaians rebuild their lives and livelihoods after being forced to leave South Africa. He also acknowledged that MTN Ghana should have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier over the proposed intervention.
The Ministry, however, said the government’s decision had already been communicated directly to MTN’s Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer when they paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on August 14, 2026. The government therefore considers its own arrangements for the evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians sufficient to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of the returnees.
‘This position of the Government of Ghana had earlier been directly conveyed to the Board Chair and CEO of MTN when they called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) on August 14, 2026.” the statement read.
The government’s position comes after it introduced a comprehensive support package for Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa. The package includes financial assistance, transportation support, reintegration allowances, psychosocial services and access to employment and business opportunities.
The reintegration programme was subsequently expanded, with government announcing a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 transport allowance for each evacuated Ghanaian. Returnees have also been provided with relief items, National Health Insurance registration and other support, while a Presidential Task Force on Reintegration has been established to coordinate longer-term assistance.
Government has also pursued employment and livelihood opportunities for the returnees. By June, the Foreign Affairs Minister had announced that about 200 employment opportunities had been secured through partnerships with Ghanaian businesses, as government sought to ensure that the evacuation did not end with simply bringing citizens home but also helped them rebuild their livelihoods.
The latest decision also follows an earlier clarification by the Ministry that Ghana does not owe South Africa money for the evacuation of its nationals. On August 13, the Ministry rejected reports that South Africa was seeking about $18 million in reimbursement from several African countries, stressing that Ghana’s evacuation exercise had been fully funded by the Ghanaian government and its local partners.
The Ministry said Ghana did not seek financial or material assistance from the South African government to bring its nationals home and therefore would not be among countries expected to reimburse South Africa for evacuation-related costs. At the time, the government had already brought about 1,600 Ghanaians home since the evacuation exercise began in May, with additional returnees expected as the second phase continued.
The government has maintained that its intervention is not limited to emergency evacuation but extends to the protection, welfare and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the attacks. The first phase alone saw 926 Ghanaians returned on three chartered flights in May and June, while the second phase has been conducted through commercial flights to facilitate the orderly return of additional nationals.
The Ministry nevertheless expressed appreciation to MTN Ghana for its willingness to support affected Ghanaians and reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining a business environment in which international companies operating in Ghana can thrive, regardless of their country of origin.
It stressed that the welfare of Ghanaian citizens remains its foremost priority and said it would publish a comprehensive account of the total cost of the evacuation exercise once it is concluded, as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability.
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