Dr Ishmael Yamson, an Economist and Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, has disclosed that the company has committed GH¢20 million to support Ghanaians returning from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks.
According to Dr Ishmael Yamson, the intervention is intended to help the returnees rebuild their lives and livelihoods rather than provide only short-term relief.
He disclosed that MTN Ghana initially set aside GH¢10 million to welcome the returnees but doubled the amount after realising that immediate assistance would not be adequate.
Dr Ishmael Yamson disclosed that the GH¢10 million will be combined with the initial allocation to establish a fund to help the returnees restart their lives.
Speaking to Joy News on Thursday, August 20, Dr Ishmael Yamson made this known.
He, however, admitted that MTN Ghana should have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier and expressed regret over the delay in rolling out the support.
Dr Ishmael Yamson stressed that the delay should not be interpreted as a lack of concern for the affected Ghanaians.
He stated, “When the issue broke, I can tell you, the board immediately decided that we will set aside ¢10 million to welcome for as a welcome back.”
“What we then began to decide is that, and many of them, some I understand they were allowed only two suitcases when they are on their return. So how do we create a fund that we will use to help these people to start life all over again?”
He disclosed that the company plans to add another GH¢10 million to create a fund to support the returnees in rebuilding their lives.
“I think the mistake that we made was not to have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately about this.”
“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.”
“For those who did it, Telecel and the others, I really congratulate them. Pentecost Church, I congratulate them.”
It will be recalled that the renewed attacks in South Africa have targeted African migrants, including Ghanaians, with two Ghanaian nationals killed in separate incidents.
Ghana has since evacuated over 1000 nationals who felt unsafe.
In related news, President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a delegation to him over Ghana’s push for South Africa’s xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals to be discussed at the African Union (AU).
According to Mahama, Ramaphosa sent a delegation to him, and he explained to them why there is a need to discuss the recurring xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa.
Mahama revealed that the discussion at the African Union will allow South Africa to explain to the world what they are doing.
He also revealed that despite the xenophobic attacks on Ghanaian nationals that led to the deaths of two Ghanaians and several injured in the hospital, Ghana do not hold any malice against South Africa.
For the countries that have been victims, it has been a very traumatic affair; when something like this happens, it sets all of us back. People have been displaced, their properties and businesses have been closed, and we lost two of our citizens who were killed, and others were injured.
Speaking during a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssou, at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, July 22, Mahama stated, “It does not appear that the South African authorities are responding to the magnitude that one would expect them to do. The people who are funding these xenophobic attacks are known, but they have been left free to continue what they want to do. It has become something they are doing with impunity at a high cost to us.
We had to charter a plane to South Africa to evacuate our citizens; we operated a 3-charter flight, and we are still operating another 3-charter flight because there are still about 900 who have signed on to come back voluntarily; they come back with nothing”.
Mahama further added, “As the continental body AU should take an interest in this issue, it has the potential to wreck everything we have worked for. African sovereignty and integration. We sent a notice that we want to put it on the agenda at the AU meeting in Egypt; unfortunately, that meeting was postponed, but we are hoping that at the next opportunity we will be able to put it on the agenda”.
Yesterday, President Ramaphosa sent a delegation to me; we met with them, and I explained the reason why we need to discuss it. Sometimes these things happen, and we want to sweep them under the carpet, but when we do that, we do not cure what the problem is. I told them Ghana don’t harbor any malice against South Africa, but we are raising it as an issue that will even give South Africa an opportunity to take that platform and explain what they are doing to the world”.
@ghnow_ Funny Face entrance into the ring #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ The fighters have started arriving at Abelenkpe School Park ahead of the much-anticipated Homowo Fight Fest. 🥊🔥 #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
