Accra, Ghana//-Accra, Ghana//-MTN Ghana Foundation, in partnership with CalBank, is optimistic of collecting a total of 7,000 units of blood in its ‘Save a Life’ blood donation exercises held this morning of today across 16 locations in the country.
Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of two companies gave the assurance at one of the blood donation centres held at the Cal Bank headquarters in Accra.
This year’s blood donation exercises, which took place across all 16 regions simultaneously on Friday, 13 February, were held between 8 am and 4 pm.
The exercises, which brought together voluntary donors from all 16 regions of Ghana to support the National Blood Service, major hospital and regional hospital blood banks, were supposed to be held on Valentine’s Day (14th February).
However, they were held on 13th February because Valentine’s Day falls on this Saturday.
The nationwide exercises formed part of MTN Ghana’s flagship health interventions and reflect a growing commitment by corporate Ghana to address persistent blood shortages in hospitals, particularly during medical emergencies, surgeries, and maternal care.
Major blood collection centres were held at the MTN Ghana Head Office, the MobileMoney Ltd office at the Standard Chartered Building, and the CalBank Head Office at Ridge, Accra, while several blood donation centres were held across the country.
More Units of Blood Distributed to Major Hospitals in 15 years
Speaking at the blood donation, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, revealed that 26,620 units of blood have been distributed to major hospitals, including Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ridge Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital, and several regional blood banks over the past 15 years of the ‘Save a Life’ initiative.
According to him, the blood donation drive is a critical life-saving intervention that has become a pillar of the MTN Ghana Foundation’s health programmes.
“Voluntary blood donation plays a vital role in strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system, improving emergency response capacity, and preventing avoidable deaths caused by blood shortages.
This initiative is about saving lives in the most direct way possible. A single donation can make the difference between life and death, and that is why MTN continues to invest in this cause year after year,” Mr Blewett added.
He used the occasion to urge MTN employees, partners, customers, and the general public to see blood donation as a simple but powerful act of compassion, while announcing an internal push to exceed the initial target of 7,000 units nationwide to 10,000 units.
Excited about the partnership
On his part, Managing Director of CalBank, Carl Selasi Asem, was excited to partner with MTN Ghana on the ‘Save a Life’ initiative.
He went on to say that the exercise is more than a routine corporate social responsibility activity, emphasising that it represents the intersection between institutional capacity and urgent societal need.
“At Cal Bank, we firmly believe that our contribution to national development extends beyond financial services. It includes supporting initiatives that directly protect and enhance human life”.
Mr Asem reiterated that blood donation remains one of the most immediate and impactful ways the private sector could support healthcare delivery and bridge critical gaps in the national blood supply in the country.
2026 edition historic
The Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Madam Adwoa Wiafe, said the 2026 edition of the blood donation exercises was historic in the sense that it marked the first time MTN Ghana had partnered with another corporate institution to deliver the initiative.
She explained that “the partnership with CalBank underscores MTN Ghana’s belief that meaningful impact is best achieved through collaboration”.
Madam Adwoa said: “There are things we can do alone, but when we come together and work together, we can achieve much more. Impact cannot be maximised in isolation”.
The blood donation exercise reflects MTN’s strong culture of volunteerism, adding that staff across the country had willingly volunteered to donate blood to save lives, she indicated.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service Ghana, Shirley Phyllis Ohenewa Owusu-Ofori, noted that voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation from low-risk populations remains the safest foundation for national blood supplies, as affirmed by the World Health Organisation.
While corporate-led blood donation initiatives significantly reduce pressure on hospital blood banks and enhance the country’s ability to respond to emergencies, she said.
“By participating in this exercise, donors are not just fulfilling a social responsibility; they are contributing to a public health infrastructure that serves all Ghanaians, regardless of social or economic status”.
