The National Blood Service has commended the MTN Ghana Foundation and CalBank for their landmark partnership in the 2026 Save-a-Life Blood Donation Exercise, which successfully mobilised Ghanaians to donate 7,020 units of blood—surpassing the ambitious 7,000-unit target set for the nationwide campaign.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service, Shirley Phyllis Owusu-Ofori, described MTN’s consistent support as a transformative contribution to Ghana’s healthcare system. She also expressed deep appreciation for the collaboration with CalBank, noting that sustained corporate partnerships are essential to building a reliable and safe national blood supply.
“Our vision is to establish a system built entirely on voluntary blood donation, since regular voluntary donors represent the safest and most reliable source of blood. I am genuinely gratified by the MTN Ghana Foundation’s continued dedication over the years to advancing the internationally recognised gold standard in blood donation,” she stated.
The nationwide exercise, aimed at strengthening blood reserves for the National Blood Service and regional hospitals across all 16 regions of Ghana, was held on Friday, February 13, 2026. A total of 47 designated donation centres were activated nationwide.
In Accra, major collection points included MTN House, the CalBank Head Office, and the MobileMoney LTD Office at the Stanchart Building, among other strategic locations.
Reflecting on the significance of the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, emphasised the critical importance of maintaining a dependable blood supply.
“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 life-threatening if blood is not readily available,” he remarked.
While acknowledging the success in exceeding the 7,000-unit target, Mr. Blewett challenged MTN Ghana customers and the wider public to raise the bar to 10,000 units in future campaigns—a goal the Foundation is confident of achieving through strengthened partnerships and increased public participation.
The Chief Executive Officer of CalBank, Carl Asem, described the collaboration as a natural alignment of shared corporate 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 expanding this initiative into an even more impactful annual intervention,” he stated.
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, underscored the significance of this inaugural collaboration between the institutions. She commended staff volunteers and participating Ghanaians for their enthusiasm and dedication, which were instrumental in achieving the campaign’s objective.
“We are all acutely aware of the urgent need for blood in hospitals. Donating blood can save a life tomorrow—perhaps even your own or that of someone close to you. Meaningful change is seldom achieved in isolation, and our partnership with CalBank has demonstrated the power of unity and shared purpose. It is this spirit of collaboration that forms the foundation of a thriving nation,” she concluded.
The MTN Ghana Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to deepening corporate partnerships to promote voluntary blood donation nationwide. By strengthening Ghana’s national blood reserves through collective action and generosity, the Foundation aims to ensure that more lives are saved across the country.
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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
Established in November 2007, the MTN Ghana Foundation serves as the corporate social investment arm of MTN Ghana, focusing on Health, Education and Economic Empowerment. Since its inception, the Foundation has undertaken 178 major projects nationwide, positively impacting communities across Ghana.
For more information, visit www.mtn.com.gh/about-mtn/community/mtn-ghana-foundation.
