MTN Ghana on Wednesday launched its annual community development programme dubbed: MTN Yellocare, on the theme: “Our Environment Our Future,” in Accra.
The 21-day programme, which expected to take place across the country, would enhance the company’s relationship with the communities’ in which it operates.
Mr Michael Ikpoki Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, who launched the programme said it was designed to challenge its employees, business partners and stakeholders to look beyond themselves and reach out to sustainable social
interventions meant to enrich the lives of the people.
He said this year’s theme was chosen to coincide with the United Nations declaration of 2011 as the international year of the forest to demonstrate the companies’ commitment to environmental responsibilities.
“It comes at a time when our forests have experienced drastic depletion from 20 Million to 1.8 Million hectares over the last two decades, “he said.
Mr Ikpoki said the company was committed to environmental stewardship and as such during the programme’s duration its active volunteerism employees would commit themselves to growing 21,000 tress within the 21 MTN operating countries.
He said in Ghana the exercise was targeted at planting 9,000 tress across the country in line with the nine million subscriber mark milestone.
Mr Ikpoti said the programme would roll out other environmental projects such as river and beach clean-ups, environmental awareness creation and some ecotourism projects and also interact with schools, hospitals and the communities to spread the word about protecting the environment.
He said: “MTN will put in place the necessary measures to maintain and assess the impact of our contribution to environmental sustainability beyond 2011 with the support of our valued partners.”
Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, Corporate Service Executive of MTN, said there was the need for the company to make a difference by undertaking projects that would impact on the lives of society.
She said the programme was meant to give back to the society and help enhance every aspect of the environmental lives of the people.
The 21-days of Yellocare was instituted by MTN in 2007 to give all MTN employees an opportunity to contribute towards improving the welfare of their communities.
It has now become a prominent feature in MTN’s calendar and one of MTN’s flagship corporate social responsibility programmes driven by MTN foundation.