Sustainability must become a way of life

By DANIEL NONOR, Accra

MTN Ghana has launched the 2026 edition of its Sustainability Month with a call on individuals, businesses and institutions to embrace simple, consistent actions that collectively contribute to making a significant difference to the environment and society.

The month-long campaign, launched in Accra on Tuesday, is on the theme: “Small Actions, Big Impact.”
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, said sustainability had become an integral part of the company’s business strategy and culture, rather than a standalone corporate initiative.

He said the launch of Sustainability Month was a reflection of the values the company continued to build over the years.

“This launch is a statement of the culture we are building,” he said. Mr Blewett explained that sustainability was central to the company’s long-term growth strategy and its commitment to creating value for customers, communities and the country.

“Sustainability is central to how we grow and how we keep things going for the future,” he said.
He said MTN had dedicated an entire month to sustainability because it regarded it as a shared value that protected the environment, strengthened stakeholder trust and supported national development.

As MTN Ghana celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Mr Blewett said the company was reflecting on its achievements while renewing its commitment to deliver greater social and environmental impact.

“As we celebrate 30 years, we look back at the impact we have made and look forward to strengthening that resolve to be better,” he said.

He stressed that the company was moving beyond making commitments to implementing practical actions.

“This month, strategy meets action,” he stated. According to him, MTN’s sustainability initiatives over the years had demonstrated that seemingly small interventions could produce significant results.

“We already have proof that small actions do really add up to big impacts,” he said.

He cited the company’s investment in solar energy installations across parts of its operations as one example of practical measures that were reducing carbon emissions while improving operational efficiency.

Beyond environmental initiatives, he said MTN had consistently invested in programmes that promoted financial inclusion, supported small businesses and expanded access to quality healthcare.

Those interventions, he said, included the construction and refurbishment of health facilities, blood donation exercises and various empowerment programmes that had improved the lives of many people across the country.

Mr Blewett said the company’s sustainability agenda was also underpinned by responsible leadership and strong corporate governance.

“We do not just talk about impact, we show up,” he said. He added that sustainability should not be seen as the responsibility of one department but as a discipline that must guide every aspect of business operations.

“Sustainability is not a department; it is a discipline,” he said. He described sustainability as a commitment to shaping a better future for generations to come.

Mr Blewett further said MTN’s growth was closely linked to Ghana’s development. “When the country grows, MTN grows, and that is shared value,” he said.

He maintained that commercial success and positive social impact must always go together.
“A good business and a good impact must move together,” he added.

The Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, said this year’s Sustainability Month sought to encourage people to appreciate that meaningful change often begins with small, consistent actions.

She explained that sustainability was embedded in MTN’s business model and informed the way the company operated.

“Sustainability is how we do our business,” she said. Mrs Wiafe recalled that for the past two years, the company’s Sustainability Month had been organised under the theme, “Our Collective Responsibility.”

She said although that message remained relevant, the company had decided to move the conversation a step further this year by focusing on individual actions.

“It mattered and it still does. This year, the discussion has been taken a step further. It’s not about size but about habits. It is the accumulation that matters,” she said.

Mrs Wiafe said MTN would undertake a number of activities throughout the month, including tree-planting exercises and sustainability engagements, to strengthen awareness and encourage positive behavioural change.

“We want to make sure that as we build on our sustainability culture, more trees will be planted over the coming weeks and more discussions on sustainability will take place, no matter how small,” she said.

She noted that Ghana was moving towards mandatory sustainability reporting, making it increasingly important for organisations to measure and account for the environmental and social impact of their operations.

According to her, the move would reinforce the importance of consistent actions in achieving measurable sustainability outcomes.

Mrs Wiafe urged individuals not to underestimate the impact of their personal contributions towards protecting the environment and supporting sustainable development.

Quoting a story about a bird building its nest, she said: “You do not need to carry the whole future in one hand; just bring a twig at a time.”

She said the message captured the essence of this year’s campaign, which encourages everyone to contribute, regardless of how small the effort may appear.

Throughout August, MTN Ghana will undertake a series of activities aimed at promoting environmental conservation, community development and responsible business practices as part of its Sustainability Month.