By Emmanuel Nduka
The Government of Ghana has rejected a GH¢20 million financial support package proposed by MTN Ghana for citizens affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was based on the government’s assessment that adequate funds had already been provided for the evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the attacks.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement issued in Accra following reports that MTN Ghana’s Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, had announced plans to establish a GH¢20 million fund to assist affected Ghanaians.
Heritage Times HT reports that MTN had initially set aside GH¢10 million to support Ghanaians returning from South Africa but subsequently doubled the amount to GH¢20 million to provide longer-term assistance and help returnees rebuild their lives.
The Ghanaian government acknowledged the telecommunications company’s gesture but said it would not accept the proposed financial assistance.
“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The ministry explained that the John Mahama administration had already made adequate financial provisions to facilitate the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians affected by the violence.
“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,” it said.
MTN Ghana’s proposed intervention came amid renewed xenophobic tensions in South Africa, which have raised concerns over the safety of Ghanaian nationals and prompted the Ghanaian government to organise the return of affected citizens.
More than 1,600 Ghanaians have reportedly been repatriated from South Africa as authorities respond to concerns over the safety of Ghanaian nationals amid the attacks.
Ghana has also taken diplomatic steps over the attacks, including petitioning the African Union over continued xenophobic violence against African nationals in South Africa.
The Ghanaian government said such attacks threaten the safety of migrants and undermine the principles of African solidarity and continental unity.
The latest development means the Ghanaian government will continue to finance the evacuation and reintegration programme through its existing arrangements, while MTN’s proposed GH¢20 million intervention will not form part of the official government response.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also indicated that details of the cost of the evacuation exercise would be made public after its conclusion.
