MTN Ghana, partnering with the National Blood Service, has facilitated a blood donation drive at Manya Krobo Senior High School, located in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality as part of events celebrating 2026 Valentine.
The initiative takes place every year and is one of the corporate social responsibility activities of MTN aimed at replenishing the blood bank of the Eastern Regional Hospital, as well as expressing love through the life-saving acts of voluntary blood donation.
Speaking with the press, Mr Ransford Gyan, the Area Sales Manager for Eastern, Volta and Oti regions, said the exercise was very important and that MTN Ghana had been using Valentine’s Day as a platform to mobilise blood from donors for hospitals all over the country.
“Blood is important for our wellbeing. Sometimes when there is an emergency, patients need blood, but it becomes difficult to get. That is why this collaboration is timely, helping us support the blood bank through our donation drive,” he said.
He emphasised that blood remains critical during emergencies, noting that timely transfusions often determine whether patients would survive.
Mr Gyan added that MTN has been committed to this cause for about 15 years, during which the company has mobilised more than 26,000 units of blood nationwide.
“Every year we set a specific target. For 2026, our national target is 7,000 units across all 16 regions to help strengthen the country’s healthcare system,” he stated.
Ms Philomina Quayson, the Eastern Regional Blood Donor Organiser at the Regional Hospital, described the exercise as a crucial intervention that supports accident victims, pregnant women, critically ill patients and anyone in need of blood transfusion.
“Our target is at least 400 units of blood. We have previously collected more than that from this school. After this, we will continue the exercise at Yilo Krobo Senior High School in Somanya,” she said.
She assured the public that blood donation is completely safe for healthy individuals aged 17 and above.
However, she cautioned that people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and sickle cell disease as well as pregnant women, should not donate blood.
Ms Quayson revealed that the regional hospital uses nearly 40 units of blood every day, but current stock levels have dropped due to schools being on vacation, since students form a large part of regular donors.
“We do not have enough blood at the moment, so this exercise is both crucial and timely. Even if we collect less than our target, it will still go a long way in saving lives,” she said.
One of the donors, Grace Adwoa, said she was motivated by compassion and the desire to help accident victims and others in emergencies.
“I want to help those in need of blood, and the Bible teaches us to love our neighbours as ourselves,” she stated.