… Says govt has made adequate provisions for evacuation, reintegration
By Nkiruka Nnorom with agency report
The Government of Ghana has declined a GHS20 million ($1.8 million) donation offered by MTN Ghana to support Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that the Mahama administration had already made sufficient financial provisions for the evacuation and reintegration of affected citizens, making it unnecessary to accept the telecom giant’s offer.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the decision was not a rejection of MTN’s gesture, but reflected the government’s existing arrangements to handle the humanitarian response.
The ministry said media reports on the donation followed comments by MTN Ghana Board Chairman, Dr. Ishmael Yamson, who spoke about the company’s intended contribution.
“Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer. However, we respectfully decline,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the government’s position had already been communicated to Yamson and the MTN Chief Executive Officer during a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister on August 14.
Ghana said it had been facilitating the evacuation of citizens caught up in the violence in South Africa and providing financial support for their reintegration upon return.
The ministry added that a comprehensive account of the total cost of the evacuation exercise would be published once completed, as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability.
“The government will continue to create the best business ecosystem for all international brands operating in Ghana to succeed, irrespective of which country their businesses originated from,” it stated, in a bid to reassure foreign investors.
The rejection comes as Ghana and other African countries continue to respond to attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa. The violence has raised concerns over the safety of African migrants and businesses on the continent.
MTN Ghana’s proposed GHS20 million contribution would have been one of the largest corporate interventions linked to the crisis. However, the government said it preferred to rely on its own funding and arrangements with local partners.
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