‘You don’t drink from any cup because you’re hungry’ – NDC communicator defends rejection of MTN’s GH¢20m

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) spokesperson, Hajia Alimatu Issahak, has defended the government's decision to decline a GH¢20 million donation from MTN Ghana aimed at aiding the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa. Hajia Alimatu believes the government's stance was motivated by considerations of national pride and the context of attacks on foreigners in South Africa.

She contends that as a South African firm, MTN should have initially focused on addressing the attacks rather than presenting financial aid to Ghana. "MTN is from South Africa and if they had any advice, they should have given it to their nation to stop the attacks on foreigners instead of just bringing us money," Hajia Alimatu said on Adom FM Dwaso Nsem.

The government spokesperson emphasized that the decision not to accept the donation was not made lightly and had to do with maintaining Ghana's dignity and national pride. She highlighted the importance of not accepting money at the expense of the nation's honor, using a local adage: "You don’t drink from any cup because you’re hungry."

The remarks come as there is increasing criticism within Parliament and from opposition parties regarding the government's handling of the evacuation process, including queries about the costs and the decision to reject the MTN contribution. The government has maintained that the evacuation was necessary to ensure the safety of Ghanaians impacted by the attacks.