The MTN Foundation on Boxing Day donated baby hampers to mothers who delivered during the Christmas season at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, as part of its annual end-of-year customer appreciation and community support initiative.
Speaking during the presentation, Madam Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana and a member of the company’s Executive Committee, said the gesture was aimed at supporting new mothers to care for their babies in the critical early days after delivery.
“Boxing Day is a day of giving, and at MTN that is what we like to do, we are here to show appreciation to our customers and stakeholders who have supported us over the years, and to put smiles on the faces of mothers who have given birth this Christmas season,” she said.
She explained that the initiative was being carried out not only in Accra but also in selected hospitals across the country, with about 700 baby hampers being distributed nationwide. Out of this number, 150 hampers were presented to mothers at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to Madam Wiafe, the hampers were intended to provide basic necessities to ease the burden on families, especially those who may not have adequate resources immediately after childbirth.
“We recognise that sometimes mothers give birth without having everything they need to care for their babies at the initial stages. This is our way of showing love, appreciation and support for the community,” she noted.
She added that the activity formed part of MTN Ghana’s broader customer appreciation programme, which is carried out throughout the year, with Boxing Day serving as a symbolic moment to give back.
Madam Wiafe also used the occasion to deliver a safety and consumer awareness message to MTN customers, particularly during the festive season when fraud cases tend to rise.
“This is a time of the year when people can encounter all kinds of tragedies, so we urge everyone to be safe on our roads and to protect themselves,” she said, cautioning customers against mobile money fraud.
She stressed that MTN would never call customers to request their Mobile Money PINs, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious calls.
“Our official customer care number is 0244 430 000. Any other number calling to ask for your PIN or personal details should be ignored,” she emphasised.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the hospital, Dr. Charles Takyi, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, expressed gratitude to MTN Ghana for its continued support over the years.
“We are very grateful for this kind gesture from MTN. They have been doing this for several years, and every year they have been a backbone to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,” he said.
Dr. Takyi disclosed that the hospital recorded 15 deliveries on Christmas Day, underscoring the relevance of the donation to mothers who gave birth during the festive period.
He recalled MTN’s past support, including the renovation of the maternity second floor and the labour ward, as well as the establishment of a data centre to support hospital operations.
“These interventions were major developments for us. Although the facilities have deteriorated over time, we are appealing to MTN to support us again, alongside what government is doing,” he added.
Dr. Takyi noted that the department handled a wide range of maternal and gynaecological cases, including antenatal care, deliveries, family planning, fibroids and cancers, and therefore had significant infrastructure and logistics needs.
He commended MTN for the consistency of its Boxing Day donations and expressed hope that the partnership would continue to improve maternal healthcare outcomes.
On behalf of hospital management and staff, Dr. Takyi wished MTN Ghana, its customers and the general public a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, assuring that the department would continue to provide quality care to mothers in the coming year.
