The National Blood Service has commended the MTN Ghana Foundation and CalBank for their landmark partnership during the 2026 Save-A-Life blood donation drive, which resulted in the collection of 7,020 units of blood—surpassing the ambitious 7,000-unit target.
Shirley Phyllis Owusu-Ofori, CEO of the National Blood Service, described MTN’s unwavering support as a “game changer” for Ghana’s healthcare sector and expressed appreciation for the Foundation’s collaboration with CalBank.
“Our vision is to build a system founded entirely on voluntary blood donation, as regular voluntary donors provide the safest and most reliable blood supply. I am genuinely gratified by the MTN Ghana Foundation’s sustained commitment over the years to advancing the internationally recognised gold standard in blood donation,” she stated.
The nationwide exercise, aimed at strengthening the reserves of the National Blood Service and regional hospitals across all 16 regions, took place on Friday, February 13, 2026. A total of 47 designated donation centres were activated nationwide, with major hubs in Accra located at MTN House, the CalBank Head Office, and the MobileMoney LTD Office (Stanchart Building).
Reflecting on his personal experience ahead of the exercise, Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, underscored the critical importance of blood donation.
“We all understand that a reliable blood supply is essential for managing emergencies, disaster preparedness, and maintaining high standards of healthcare. Even routine medical procedures can become hazardous if blood is not readily available,” he noted.
While acknowledging the initial 7,000-unit goal, Mr. Blewett challenged MTN Ghana customers and the wider public to aim for 10,000 units in future campaigns—a target the Foundation is confident of achieving with its partners.
The CEO of CalBank, Carl Selasi Asem, described the collaboration as a natural alignment of shared values, stressing that the private sector’s responsibility must extend beyond financial services to safeguarding human life.
“This is not just corporate social responsibility; we are actively strengthening Ghana’s public health infrastructure. CalBank is fully committed to growing this initiative into an even more impactful annual intervention,” he said.
Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, highlighted the significance of the inaugural partnership and commended staff volunteers and Ghanaians whose enthusiasm and dedication were instrumental to the campaign’s success.
“We are acutely aware of the urgent need for blood in our hospitals. Donating blood today could save a life tomorrow—perhaps even your own or that of someone close to you. Meaningful change is rarely achieved in isolation, and our partnership with CalBank has demonstrated the power of unity and collaboration in building a thriving nation,” she concluded.
The MTN Ghana Foundation will continue to strengthen corporate partnerships to promote voluntary blood donation and further bolster Ghana’s national blood reserves, ensuring that more lives are saved through collective action and generosity.
Media Contacts
Adwoa Wiafe
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer
Efua Falconer
Acting Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Email: MTNGhana.MediaOffice@mtn.com
About MTN Ghana Foundation
The MTN Ghana Foundation was established in November 2007 as the vehicle for implementing MTN’s Corporate Social Investments. The Foundation focuses on three key areas—Health, Education, and Economic Empowerment. Since its inception, it has undertaken 178 major projects nationwide.
For more information, visit: http://www.mtn.com.gh/about-mtn/community/mtn-ghana-foundation
