MTN Group Champions Economic Governance Training for African Public Officials at 2025 Accra Forum

In a major step towards enhancing leadership and governance across Africa, MTN Group has thrown its weight behind the 2025 Economic Governance School training held last week in Accra, Ghana, reaffirming its commitment to building institutional capacity and empowering public officials across the continent.

The prestigious training programme brought together high-level delegates from Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya—including legislators, policymakers, and senior civil servants—for a week of intensive peer learning, policy dialogue, and strategic institutional exchange. The initiative was spearheaded through a trilateral collaboration involving South Africa’s National School of Government (NSG), the Kenya School of Government (KSG), and Ghana’s Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

The Economic Governance School seeks to strengthen economic governance by equipping Africa’s public sector leaders with the tools to drive inclusive growth, transparency, and effective statecraft. Participants were exposed to advanced policy frameworks, international best practices, and the critical importance of intergovernmental cooperation in modern economic administration.

Highlighting the programme’s broader continental focus, the delegation paid a working visit to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra. The AfCFTA Secretariat, central to efforts to establish a unified African market, provided a key learning platform on trade integration, regulatory alignment, and the opportunities of intra-African commerce.

Speaking during the training, MTN Group’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Nompilo Morafo, emphasized the company’s unwavering belief in the link between people, institutions, and Africa’s prosperity. “As a pan-African business, we understand that Africa’s growth depends not only on investment in infrastructure, but also in people and institutions,” Morafo stated. “Education, training and strong institutions form the foundation for sustained progress. When civil servants and policymakers are equipped with high-quality training, their collective decisions shape a more equitable, innovative and resilient future for their nations.”

The training coincided with MTN Group’s flagship “21 Days of Y’ello Care” campaign—an annual staff volunteer programme focusing on education, youth empowerment, and community service. In line with this, the delegation visited the MTN Ghana-supported Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (OICG), where youth are trained in vocational, digital, and entrepreneurial skills to foster self-employment and financial independence.

MTN Ghana CEO, Mr. Stephen Blewett, and Chief Information Officer, Mr. Bernard Acquah, joined Morafo in participating in key panel discussions, delving into critical subjects such as digital transformation in public service, the strategic role of artificial intelligence in governance, and innovative approaches to infrastructure financing.

The conversations underlined how telecommunications and digital technologies can redefine public service delivery, enhance transparency, and accelerate development outcomes across Africa.

South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms. Pinky Kekana, lauded the initiative, describing it as a vital forum for constructive dialogue and shared learning. “The Economic Governance School offers a unique platform for elected and appointed public leaders to engage in critical analysis and reflective dialogue on the complex challenges confronting governance,” she said.

Director of GIMPA, Prof. Samuel Kwadwo Bonsu, also acknowledged the significance of MTN’s contribution and the intergovernmental collaboration behind the programme. “We are proud as GIMPA to serve, not only as a centre of learning but as a convening ground for critical reflection and collaboration,” he noted.

MTN Group’s participation and sponsorship of the Economic Governance School stands as a testament to its broader strategic vision—to build a digital, inclusive, and well-governed Africa by investing not only in technology but in human and institutional capital.

As Africa navigates the challenges of digital governance, public sector innovation, and youth empowerment, initiatives like the Economic Governance School—supported by forward-thinking institutions like MTN—are crucial to shaping a new generation of ethical, efficient, and visionary leaders.