MTN Ghana has increased the overall prize for its flagship Heroes of Change initiative from GH¢200,000 to GH¢400,000 as it launched the eighth edition of the programme, aimed at recognising individuals making significant contributions to their communities.
The company has also increased the prize for the 10 finalists from GH¢100,000 to GH¢200,000 each, while runner-up finalists will receive GH¢100,000 each.
Speaking in an interview after the launch in Accra, Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, said the increased rewards were intended to provide meaningful support to individuals whose work was creating positive change in their communities.
This year, we have taken it a notch higher. We have increased the prize money for the overall winner from GH¢200,000 to GH¢400,000. The finalists get GH¢200,000, up from GH¢100,000, and the runner-up finalists get GH¢100,000 each,” she said.
She explained that the Heroes of Change programme was consistent with MTN’s broader commitment to using its business and resources as a “force for good” and supporting people who were improving the lives of others.
Heroes of Change are using their lives as a force for good. So, for us, it is imperative that we support such causes,” Wiafe said.
She said although MTN was primarily known for its connectivity services, the company’s purpose extended beyond telecommunications to ensuring that people could benefit from opportunities created by a modern connected life.
We all know that we are in the connectivity business, but our belief is that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life,” she said.
According to her, MTN Ghana Foundation’s interventions in education, health and economic empowerment were designed to complement the company’s connectivity business by helping communities develop the capacity to improve their livelihoods.
She cited scholarships, digital and ICT centres, marketable skills development and support for health facilities with medical equipment as some of the initiatives through which the foundation was contributing to national development.
On the selection process for Season Eight, Wiafe said nominations would undergo several stages, with the initial pool of 100 nominees reduced to 30 and subsequently to 10 finalists.
The finale will be next year March, and we have a panel of judges. This is something that is not done internally by MTN. It is done by an independent judging panel that is going to assess every submission that is brought in,” she explained.
She therefore encouraged Ghanaians to nominate individuals in their communities whose work deserved recognition.
If they are doing great work and you support them, please nominate them as your Hero of Change,” she urged.
Celebrating selflessness
Launching Season Eight, Wiafe said the programme was not merely about celebrating award winners but about highlighting the often-unnoticed work of ordinary people who were transforming their communities.
Heroes of Change is not about the people who are nominated as heroes. It is really about other people. They are operating in service to other people,” she said.
She called on Ghanaians to look beyond the usual high-profile personalities and recognise people who consistently serve their communities without expecting recognition.
Somebody near you is doing something. They are teaching, healing, building, helping and asking for nothing. Do not simply admire them; nominate them and tell their story,” she said.
She said the programme reflected MTN’s belief that sustainable progress was driven by people who were willing to take responsibility for improving the lives of others.
Humanity is changed by people with responsibility. The people who carry responsibility are the ones who are able to bring about change,” she said.
Adwoa Wiafe also linked the initiative to MTN’s 30th anniversary theme, “30 Years of Progress, Powered by You,”, saying the company’s growth had been driven by its efforts to solve everyday problems and create opportunities for people.
MTN did not flourish because we set out to flourish. We flourished because we set out to solve an everyday problem,” she said.
She added that the company’s sustainability agenda was rooted in the belief that progress should be inclusive.
Everyone deserves the benefits of the modern connected life. Those benefits are not only about connectivity. We believe that everyone deserves dignity. Everyone deserves to be seen. That is what you see in our heroes,” she said.
Season 7 winner recounts impact
The impact of the programme was highlighted by Dr. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of The Ark Foundation, the Season Seven overall winner, who said the award had enabled her organisation to expand its support for women and children affected by abuse.
Dr. Dwamena-Aboagye said she was pleasantly surprised when she was selected as a winner after seeing the stories of other nominees.
I was pleasantly surprised because when I watched the videos of the heroes, it was like, ‘Wow, it is not possible that these people exist.’ So it was really amazing for me to be selected,” she said.
She said the prize money enabled her organisation to renovate its transition shelter, where women and children affected by abuse receive temporary accommodation and support.
MTN was able to help us renovate our transition shelter, where we receive women and children who are abused,” she said.
She described the financial support as significant in helping vulnerable women rebuild their lives.
“GH¢200,000 is a lot of money for women to rise from the ashes,” Ms Wiafe Boagye said.
Focus on sustainable impact
Acting Manager Sustainability and Shared Value- MTN, Georgina Fiagbenu, in her welcome remarks, said the Heroes of Change initiative aligned with MTN Ghana’s sustainability agenda and its focus on creating shared value.
She said the programme had, over the years, identified ordinary individuals who had recognised problems within their communities and taken action to address them.
They are teachers supporting children behind or beyond the classroom, volunteers caring for vulnerable people, individuals creating opportunities and community champions whose impact is felt far beyond their immediate surroundings,” she said.
She described the initiative as a platform for celebrating people whose consistent actions were creating long-term value for society.
As we begin this season, we look forward to discovering another group of individuals whose actions, commitments and sacrifices are changing lives,” she said.
Season Eight of Heroes of Change will therefore focus on identifying and rewarding individuals whose work demonstrates sustainable impact across areas including education, health, economic empowerment, community development, media and digital innovation.
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