Ghana’s Government has declined a GH¢20 million support offer from MTN Ghana to assist Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying...
Ghana’s Government has declined a GH¢20 million support offer from MTN Ghana to assist Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying adequate financial provisions have already been made for their evacuation and reintegration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The Ministry said the government had taken note of reports that MTN Ghana was preparing to provide the funds following comments made by MTN Ghana Board Chairman Dr Ishmael Yamson.
While acknowledging the gesture, the government said it would not accept the proposed contribution. “The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the Ministry said in the statement.
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The Ministry said the Mahama administration had already made adequate provision for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the attacks. It therefore said there was no need for the government to accept the financial support offered by the telecommunications company.
The government’s position had also been communicated to MTN leadership before Wednesday’s public statement. According to the Ministry, MTN’s Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer met Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on August 14, when the government’s position was conveyed to them.
The GH¢20 million offer followed MTN Ghana’s decision to support Ghanaians returning from South Africa. Yamson said the company had initially set aside GH¢10 million as a welcome-back package before doubling the amount to provide longer-term support for affected returnees.
The offer came as Ghana continued an evacuation exercise for citizens affected by the violence in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on August 19 that about 1,600 Ghanaians had been evacuated from South Africa since May, with about 300 more expected to arrive in the following weeks to complete the second phase of the exercise.
The Government has also said that returning Ghanaians would receive support to help them rebuild their lives after returning home. During earlier evacuation exercises, officials said returnees would receive medical and psychosocial support, reintegration assistance and access to employment or skills-development opportunities.
The first batch of evacuees arrived in Ghana in May after the Government decided to facilitate their return because of the security situation created by the xenophobic attacks. The Ministry said at the time that the Government was committed to protecting the welfare, dignity and safety of Ghanaian nationals.
The evacuation programme has continued in phases. On August 17, the Government received the 11th batch of Ghanaian nationals evacuated during the second phase, with 87 returnees arriving in Accra. The Ministry said the returnees were provided with assistance to facilitate their resettlement and reintegration into their communities.
The Ministry has now promised to make the total cost of the evacuation exercise public once the programme is completed. It said a comprehensive account would be presented to the public in the interest of transparency and accountability.
The Government has not yet released the final cost of the ongoing evacuation because the exercise has not been completed. The promised disclosure is expected to provide a full account of the resources spent on bringing affected Ghanaians back from South Africa and supporting their reintegration.
The Ministry also sought to make clear that declining the MTN offer should not be interpreted as a rejection of international or private-sector businesses operating in Ghana. It reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to creating a favourable business environment for international brands regardless of where their businesses originated.
The statement comes after MTN Ghana’s proposed intervention attracted public attention amid the continuing crisis affecting Ghanaian nationals in South Africa. MTN Ghana is part of the wider MTN Group, which has its origins in South Africa, a fact that has formed part of public discussion around the company’s response to the attacks.
Yamson previously acknowledged that MTN Ghana could have engaged the Foreign Affairs Ministry earlier regarding its support plans. According to Pulse Ghana, he said the company initially decided to set aside GH¢10 million as a welcome-back package and later increased the amount to GH¢20 million after considering the longer-term needs of affected Ghanaians.
The Government’s rejection therefore does not mean that MTN Ghana’s proposed support will be provided to the affected returnees through another government programme. The Ministry’s statement specifically said the offer had been declined because adequate government provisions had already been made for the evacuation and reintegration exercise.
Ghana’s response also comes as the Government continues to coordinate with institutions involved in the evacuation and reintegration process. Earlier evacuations involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Disaster Management Organisation, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, health authorities, immigration officials and other stakeholders.
The Government has maintained that the safety and welfare of Ghanaians affected by the attacks remain a priority. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also continued to work with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria to assist citizens and coordinate the return of those seeking evacuation.
The Ministry’s latest statement leaves the Government responsible for funding the ongoing evacuation and reintegration programme. It has also committed to publishing the final cost after the exercise is completed, providing the public with information on the expenditure associated with the operation.
For now, the Government has formally declined MTN Ghana’s GH¢20 million offer while continuing to fund the return and reintegration of affected citizens. The evacuation exercise remains ongoing, with additional Ghanaian nationals expected to return from South Africa.
The development places the focus on the Government’s handling of the evacuation programme and its promised disclosure of the total costs. It also leaves MTN Ghana’s proposed GH¢20 million support offer unaccepted, despite the company’s stated intention to assist Ghanaians affected by the attacks.
