MTN Ghana has launched the 2026 edition of its annual employee volunteerism programme, 21 Days of y’ello Care, with a renewed commitment to extending healthcare services to underserved communities across the country.
The programme, which runs from June 1 to June 21, 2026, is on the theme: “Equitable Health for Every Community” and seeks to address critical gaps in healthcare delivery through a series of interventions aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services.
This year’s initiative will focus on four key thematic areas, namely tackling the country’s persistent No Bed Syndrome, community health outreach, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects, and the dissemination of health information to the public through digital platforms.
As part of efforts to address the shortage of hospital beds in health facilities, MTN Ghana plans to support the refurbishment of existing hospital beds and donate 1,000 hospital beds to healthcare institutions serving vulnerable and underserved communities across the country.
The programme will also undertake sanitation improvement projects in selected communities and provide health education and wellness tips to customers through SMS and other digital channels.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, said the annual initiative was an opportunity for MTN employees to give back to the communities that had supported the growth and success of the telecommunications company over the years.
She explained that y’ello Care had evolved beyond being a routine corporate social responsibility activity to become a deeply cherished tradition among employees.
“y’ello Care is not just something on the calendar that we do every year, but something that we look forward to,” she said.
She noted further that the initiative served as a reminder of MTN’s commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of people and communities.
“It is time for us to remind ourselves of what y’ello Care represents for us individually and as a corporate entity. It is a time for us, as MTN employees, to make a personal commitment to the people who have made us who we are, and that is our local communities,” she stated.
She stressed the importance of intentionality in community development efforts, noting that every impactful intervention required conscious planning and dedication.
“It is time for us to really understand that everything worth doing must be done intentionally, and y’ello Care is one of the things that we do intentionally to remind ourselves of the responsibility placed on us as people who are expected to give back to our communities,” she added.
According to her, the programme had contributed significantly to sustaining MTN’s relevance and strong relationship with communities over the past three decades.
She noted that the seemingly small acts of kindness and support undertaken through y’ello Care over the past 19 years had helped strengthen public trust in the company and reinforced its position as a responsible corporate citizen.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, commended MTN Ghana for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would contribute significantly to strengthening healthcare delivery across the country.
He said government alone could not address all the challenges confronting the health sector and therefore welcomed partnerships with the private sector aimed at improving health outcomes for citizens.
The minister also used the occasion to urge Ghanaians to remain vigilant against the threat of Ebola, despite the country not having recorded any cases.
He noted that while outbreaks had been reported in some countries, Ghana had so far remained unaffected and must take proactive measures to maintain that status.
Mr Akandoh described Ebola as a highly dangerous disease with a high mortality rate and emphasised that prevention remained the most effective means of protection.
“As we speak, there is no cure for Ebola. What we must do is ensure that we do not allow the disease into our country. Government will do whatever it takes, but the public also has a role to play,” he said.
Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister reminded citizens that diseases could spread rapidly across borders.
“Diseases do not require passports to cross borders. We must all remain alert and support efforts to keep Ghana safe from Ebola and other infectious diseases,” he said.
He urged the public to maintain good personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly with soap under running water and using hand sanitisers.
Mr Akandoh further advised persons experiencing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained weakness to report immediately to the nearest health facility for assessment and treatment.
The Manager for Business Finance at MTN Ghana, Godfred Atopley, said the success of the initiative would depend on the commitment and active participation of employees and partners.
He noted that the programme represented more than a symbolic gesture and reflected MTN’s determination to create lasting impact in communities across the country.
Mr Atopley encouraged volunteers to approach the initiative with passion and commitment in order to make the 2026 edition one of the most impactful since the programme was introduced.
In support of the initiative, medical services company Onepharma announced a contribution of GH¢300,000 worth of services towards the implementation of the y’ello Care projects.
Management of the company said it was honoured to partner MTN Ghana and support efforts aimed at improving healthcare delivery in underserved communities.
The company noted that healthcare facilities without functioning critical equipment could not effectively deliver quality care and therefore welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the programme.
Also partnering the initiative is Sika P3 Adwuma, a maintenance engineering firm specialising in medical equipment and accessories.
The company has pledged to support the refurbishment and maintenance of hospital beds under the project.
Management of the firm indicated that it currently provides maintenance services to eight hospitals and had assembled a team of artisans ready to commence work on the refurbishment exercise.
