Telecommunications giant MTN Ghana has successfully concluded its flagship 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, reaffirming its commitment to community empowerment through sustainable development and digital inclusion.
This year’s campaign, themed “Connecting at the Roots: Connecting Communities with Digital Tools,” focused on bridging the digital divide and reaching underserved communities with impactful interventions across all 16 regions of Ghana.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Madam Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, described the initiative as “an outpouring of care, commitment, and purpose.”
“From the pottery sheds of Torgome to smart farms in Nyankpala, from ICT labs to school classrooms, we gave more than our time and energy — we gave our hearts,” she said.
Key Highlights
The campaign’s major achievements included:
- Empowering over 500 women artisans in Torgome with modern pottery skills and digital business training, while constructing a new pottery shed.
- Training young people in the Central, Western, and Ashanti Regions in mobile phone repairs, equipping them with skills for self-employment and economic independence.
- Partnering with OITI and Uni Jay Ltd. to produce and distribute 500 school uniforms, giving children in underserved areas renewed confidence and identity.
- Donating LED screens and developing the first-ever website for OITI, expanding students’ access to technology-driven learning.
- Equipping over 1,000 students in Tolon and Nyinahin with ICT and artificial intelligence tools through the provision of 30 computers and the expansion of ICT hubs.
- Delivering digital onboarding sessions in Moree, Effiakuma, Sefwi Dwenase, and Torgome to promote the use of essential services via the MyMTN App and mCare.
- Establishing a climate-smart farm in Nyankpala, equipped with drip irrigation, sensors, and real-time dashboards to support 50 farmers in adopting data-driven agriculture.
In total, MTN volunteers — affectionately known as “MTNers” — made a remarkable impact by clothing 500 children, training over 100 young people in technology, empowering more than 200 women, onboarding thousands onto digital platforms, and enhancing ICT education for the next generation.
Ms. Wiafe praised the dedication of MTNers and partner organizations, adding:
“You showed us that excellence is not confined to the workplace. It is a daily choice and a way of being.”
She expressed gratitude to the program’s partners — including the Opportunity Industrialization Technical Institute, Holland Green Technology, Pel’s Farms Foundation, MedPharma, Duapa Workspace, Uni Jay Limited, and others — for their vital contributions to the initiative.
Ms. Wiafe urged participants and partners to view the close of the campaign not as an end, but as the beginning of ongoing community engagement. “Giving back cannot be seasonal; it must be the standard,” she emphasized.
Youth Empowerment in Domase
In a related development, MTN Ghana, in partnership with Mobile Web Ghana, has trained 50 young people in Domase in mobile phone repairs and digital content creation.
Madam Florence Toffa, Director of Mobile Web Ghana, described the program as a vital step towards economic empowerment in underserved communities.
“For too long, many have been passive consumers of technology. This program is about transforming them into creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” she said.
Over the course of a week, participants were trained in diagnosing phone faults and producing engaging digital content. Ms. Toffa highlighted the critical role of content creation in the modern economy, noting that with the rise of social media and artificial intelligence, local talent must seize opportunities to own their digital space.
She shared the story of a senior high school student with no prior technical experience who learned to repair a phone screen in just three days.
“This young girl was studying home economics. After the training, she is now considering phone repair as a business. This is the kind of transformation we need,” Ms. Toffa noted.
She further cited success stories of MTN’s youth empowerment efforts, including alumni who have launched technology businesses.
“In communities like Domase, young people have devices in their hands. With skills training, those devices can become tools for income generation and self-reliance,” she added.
Ms. Toffa called on stakeholders to support more opportunities that equip young people with the skills and confidence to thrive in a technology-driven world.
“Everyone has potential,” she concluded. “If we expose them to the right opportunities, they can transform their lives and their communities.”
Commendation from OIC
Ms. Josephine Hutchison, Vice Principal for Administration at the Opportunity Industrialization Centre (OIC), also expressed her gratitude to MTN Ghana and its partners for supporting technical and vocational education.
She commended MTN for providing a platform to showcase OIC students’ skills, describing it as a valuable practical learning experience that contributes to national development.
“This collaboration has introduced our students to essential digital skills and empowered them to market their talents to potential employers,” Ms. Hutchison stated.
As part of its support, MTN donated several large television sets to the school’s Fashion, Electrical, and Automotive departments to enhance teaching and learning, and developed a website to strengthen the institution’s digital presence.
“These contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of our students, enriching their educational journey and opening new doors,” she added.
Ms. Hutchison emphasized the importance of such partnerships in promoting the relevance of technical education in Ghana and expressed optimism for continued collaboration.
“We look forward to future partnerships that empower our students and contribute to national development,” she concluded.
Certificates of appreciation were presented to some beneficiaries and partners following the conclusion of the Y’ello Care initiative.
Since its inception, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care program has remained MTN’s flagship volunteerism initiative, rallying staff and partners each year to implement impactful projects that expand opportunities and transform communities across Ghana.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
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