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MTN Group CEO, Ralph Mupita was in Ghana for the 3rd time last week. After meeting with the telecommunication company\u2019s key stakeholders, Mr. Mupita also met with some Ghanaian journalists and editors.<\/p>\n
Host of Citi FM<\/strong>\u2018s morning show and the Point of View on Citi TV<\/strong>, Mr. Bernard Avle interviewed Mr. Mupita on a wide range of issues which included the quality of the company\u2019s network service, the impact of Government\u2019s Electronic Transfer levy and the company\u2019s 2021 financial report.<\/p>\n Here are 5 key things, Mr. Ralph Mupita touched on:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Mr. Ralph Mupita explained that Ghana\u2019s vibrant democracy, together with the vibrancy around the country\u2019s talent pool and the entrepreneurship drive of the people, makes Ghana a unique marketplace for business.<\/p>\n Mr. Ralph Mupita disclosed that Ghana ranked the 3rd largest market within the MTN Group portfolio and the best merchant ecosystem for the business.<\/p>\n He added, \u201cWe learn from what\u2019s happening in Ghana, and we try to replicate it elsewhere\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a continuous program of our priority market, Ghana [is the] 3rd largest in the MTN Portfolio, so there\u2019s always a reason to be here and to understand what is going on, occasioned by the challenges going on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Group CEO of MTN, Mr. Mupita also dispelled claims that his company sort to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n Speaking on the Telecommunications company\u2019s 2021 financial result, Mr. Mupita explained that the work that went into building the company\u2019s networks, together with diligently managing its expenses, were the reasons for the company\u2019s positive financial returns during the pandemic.<\/p>\n Mr. Mupita added that the company, in an attempt to give back to society, also provided vaccines to countries and ensured the zero-rating of some sites and critical services for schools and other essential services.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery year, we put in enormous amount of capital to sustain our networks and make sure they are high quality\u2026 We had largely built our networks sufficiently, to enable people work from home, and therefore carry on their economic activities\u2026We, in many respects, having invested early, enabled the economies to carry on. We have been managing our expenses very well. There was a confluence of things that gave us very good results, but it wasn\u2019t a short term thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand our role in society more deeply and hence our decision we took, to provide vaccines, (worth $25 million)\u00a0 and the second thing is we zero-rated many sites and services,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n When asked about Ghana\u2019s Cedi depreciation and the repatriation of the company\u2019s profits, Mr. Mupita said MTN is not \u201coblivious of the fact that we have a big business and that any dividends and capital repatriation can have some impact\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have ongoing discussions with the Bank of Ghana to ensure MTN does not repatriate in a way that is disturbing to the country\u2019s currency and economy.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking on Government\u2019s introduction of the Electronic Transfer Tax, Mr. Ralph Mupita explained that the MTN Group recognises the enormous challenge and burden Government has to balance the budget, however, he was of the view that it was a little too early to assess the impact the tax is going to have on the company.<\/p>\n According to him, in 6 months, the MTN Group will have more data to effectively speak on the impact of the E-levy.<\/p>\n Mr. Mupita assured the public of MTN\u2019s continuous investment in the expansion of the country\u2019s digital ecosystem to enable e-commerce and enable payments, although he admits that will mean some short-term pressure on revenue generation.<\/p>\n Mr. Ralph Mupita explained that the MTN Group is currently satisfied with the mobile money licence. According to him, the MTN Group will at the appropriate time engage with Bank of Ghana authorities and other relevant stakeholders if there was a need to engage in a different financial inclusion initiative<\/p>\n \u201cWe are happy with the e-money license that we have right now. But if ever a time came, and they wanted to have a different kind of license regime, we will talk to the authorities. But it is not something that is on top of our minds right now. Our commitment to driving financial inclusion remains undiminished,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Watch his interaction with the media here:<\/strong><\/p>\nGhana is the 3rd largest market in MTN Group\u2019s portfolio\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Long-term investment was key to MTN\u2019s success amid COVID<\/strong><\/h4>\n
MTN\u2019s role in addressing Ghana\u2019s exchange rate problems<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\u2018It\u2019s too early to assess impact of E-Levy\u2019 \u2013 MTN Group CEO<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Commitment to driving financial inclusion\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n