More than 400 children, most of them orphans from the Kumasi Municipality, began the New Year in grand style when they were feted by the MTN Ghana Foundation as part of the organisation’s commitment to support needy children. The excited children, dressed in their best, were served food and drinks and danced to good music at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi. They took home exercise and reading books, pens and playing toys and participated in inter-orphanage quiz sessions to add more excitement to the day. The Commercial Head of MTN Northern Ghana Business Unit, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, noted that MTN understands children are the bedrock of a country’s future economic and social growth, and need to be nurtured to become productive contributors to the economy. “At MTN, our focus is not only limited to the business, but also how we can enrich the lives of people and make a positive impact in their communities which demonstrates MTN’s commitment as a caring brand” he added. Mr Sarpong also mentioned that one of the initiative’s goals is to showcase the importance that MTN attaches to the wellbeing of children, particularly the disadvantaged and the physically challenged. He used the event to encourage the children to study hard and set their sights on becoming prominent people who impact their communities. Since coming into being five years ago, the MTN Ghana Foundation, as the Corporate Social Investments arm of the network, has consistently partnered with various institutions to organise end of year and New Year parties for less privileged children in communities across the country. This year, the MTN Foundation partnered with Fire Rock Foundation to organise the party for children from orphanages such SOS in Kumasi, King Jesus Children’s Home, Kumasi Children’s Home and others from neighbouring communities in the Kumasi Metropolis. The President of Fire Rock Foundation expressed the foundation’s profound appreciation to MTN for their support in helping to put a smile on the faces of these children and agreed on the need to extend more care and attention to children as ensuring a firm foundation for them would also ensure the growth of the nation.