MTN Ghana Foundation has launched the eighth edition of its flagship Heroes of Change programme with a substantial increase in prize money, doubling the overall winner’s award to GH¢400,000 and calling on Ghanaians to nominate individuals whose selfless service is transforming lives through education, healthcare and economic empowerment.
The enhanced prize package, unveiled at the launch in Accra on Wednesday, is aimed at enabling winners to expand the reach and impact of their community interventions, with category winners, finalists and special award recipients also benefiting from significant increases in financial support.
The initiative, one of MTN Ghana’s flagship corporate social investment programmes, recognises ordinary Ghanaians whose dedication to serving their communities has created lasting social impact, often without public recognition.
Prize packages doubled
Under the revised awards structure, the overall winner will receive GH¢400,000, up from GH¢200,000, while each of the three category winners will receive GH¢200,000, compared to GH¢60,000 in previous editions.
Each finalist will also receive GH¢100,000, a fourfold increase from the previous GH¢25,000, with additional awards to be presented in the areas of sustainability, digital innovation and leadership.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, said the increased prizes were intended to help recipients scale up their social interventions rather than simply reward past achievements.
She explained that the awards represented investments in community development by equipping beneficiaries with additional resources to extend the reach of their work.
Recognising unsung heroes
Mrs Wiafe said the Heroes of Change initiative was founded on the belief that ordinary people possess the power to create extraordinary change through acts of selfless service.
She said the programme celebrates individuals who consistently devote their time, energy and resources to improving the lives of others, often without seeking recognition.
“Humanity is changed by people with responsibility. The people who carry the greatest responsibility are the ones who bring about change,” she said.
According to her, while many people occasionally perform acts of kindness, Heroes of Change honours those who dedicate themselves daily to serving their communities.
“There are people among us who do extraordinary things every single day. They love others more than themselves. That kind of devotion is difficult to explain and impossible to ignore,” she added.
Mrs Wiafe said the initiative reflected MTN Ghana’s broader commitment to creating shared value beyond telecommunications services.
Drawing parallels with the company’s 30-year journey in Ghana, she said sustainable businesses thrive by solving everyday problems affecting ordinary people.
“Businesses last because they solve the ordinary problems of ordinary people. Progress comes when we think beyond ourselves and open doors for people who never knew those doors existed,” she said.
She noted that Heroes of Change complements MTN’s sustainability agenda by recognising individuals whose simple acts of service evolve into life-changing interventions.
“People who set out to change one small thing in their communities often end up transforming those communities far beyond what they imagined,” she said.
Mrs Wiafe observed that many community heroes had been promoting sustainable development long before the concept became a corporate priority.
“Individuals were practising sustainability long before it had a name,” she noted.
She stressed that the programme exists to honour the countless unsung Ghanaians whose contributions often go unnoticed.
“Progress in this country has never belonged to institutions alone. It has always been driven by ordinary people doing extraordinary things, often at their own cost, with nobody watching,” she added.
More than 100 heroes recognised
Mrs Wiafe said more than 100 community heroes had been recognised over the past seven seasons in the areas of education, healthcare, economic empowerment and, more recently, digital inclusion.
She added that through the MTN Ghana Foundation, the company had implemented more than 178 major social intervention projects, positively impacting over five million people across the country.
She urged the public to actively identify deserving individuals in their communities and nominate them for this year’s competition.
“Look around your community. Somebody is teaching, healing, building or keeping hope alive without asking for anything in return. Do not just admire them. Nominate them. Tell their story. Let Ghana see them,” she appealed.
Supporting sustainable development
The Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, said the launch formed part of the company’s Sustainability Month, being observed under the theme, “Small Actions, Big Impact: Together for a Sustainable Future.”
She said the theme closely aligned with the Heroes of Change initiative, which over the past eight years had celebrated ordinary individuals whose small acts of kindness had produced lasting improvements in their communities.
According to her, the programme honours people whose work is driven by values such as love, kindness, integrity and service.
“As we begin this season, we look forward to discovering another group of remarkable individuals whose dedication, commitment and sacrifice continue to change lives,” she said.
Past winner shares experience
The Season Seven overall winner, Dr Angela Nana Boakye, commended MTN Ghana for identifying and supporting people who dedicate their lives to serving humanity.
She said the assistance she received through the programme had significantly expanded the reach and impact of her work.
Nomination process
This year’s competition will be judged by a panel comprising broadcaster Gifty Anti, musician Okyeame Kwame and motivational speaker Rev. Albert Ocran.
Nominations will be open from August to September 2026, after which approximately 100 entries will be screened before judges shortlist 30 nominees.
Nationwide verification visits are scheduled for September, with the final 10 nominees expected to be selected in October.
Their stories will be filmed between October and November 2026 and broadcast from December 2026 to March 2027, culminating in the MTN Heroes of Change Awards in March 2027.
