Accra, March 4, 2011- The Corporate Social Responsibility arm of MTN, the MTN Ghana Foundation, is assisting Ghanaian returnees from Libya with communication materials worth GHS 85, 000 to help in reuniting them with their family and friends in the country.

The Foundation has allocated 10,000 MTN Sim Cards valued at GHS 10,000 to be distributed free to the returnees. In addition, 5000 MTN mobile phones valued at GHS 75,000 would also be distributed to those who do not have mobile handsets. The Sim Cards also come with an amount of airtime plus 20 free SMSs.

Earlier on on Saturday February 26th, when the first batch of 55 Ghanaian returnees arrived in the country, the company provided them with free Sim cards. There was also an emergency registration center to register them for easy and fast connection to family and friends.

Currently, there are an estimated 10,000 Ghanaians to be evacuated from Libya and MTN is happy to assist the returnees by ensuring a rapid connection with their families.

The Ag. Executive Director of MTN Ghana Foundation, Mrs. Georgina Asare Fiagbenu said the organization is doing everything possible to facilitate the smooth integration of “our brothers and sisters who through no fault of theirs have to return to the country in such circumstances”. According to her, some of these returnees may not have arrived with their belongings and this will make it difficult for them to get connected to their family and friends.

Mrs. Fiagbenu added that MTN will continue to support the Ghanaian society in diverse ways to make life better. “We reckon that our mandate as a multinational extends beyond the provision of telecommunications services. We are very much concerned about the welfare of the people we serve”, she said.  According to her, the essence of the establishment of the MTN Ghana Foundation was to intervene in addressing various social, educational and health needs of the people”.

Last year in the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) Awards, MTN Ghana was adjudged the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year as a result of its numerous social, educational and health initiatives in the country.