MTN Ghana has doubled the prize money for its Heroes of Change initiative as it officially launched Season 8, with the overall winner set to receive GH¢400,000, up from GH¢200,000, in what the company described as a renewed commitment to recognising Ghanaians making lasting impacts in their communities.

Speaking at the launch in Accra, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Ms. Adwoa Wiafe, said the increased prize package was aimed at providing greater support to individuals whose selfless work continues to transform lives across the country.

She announced that category winners would each receive GH¢200,000, an increase from GH¢60,000, while each finalist would receive GH¢100,000, up from GH¢45,000. Special prizes for sustainability, digital innovation and rewards for nominators of the 10 finalists have also been introduced.

Ms. Wiafe said that Heroes of Change reflects MTN's purpose of improving lives beyond connectivity by recognising ordinary Ghanaians undertaking extraordinary acts in education, health, economic empowerment and, since last season, media and digital innovation.

She noted that over seven seasons, the initiative had recognised more than 100 heroes, while the MTN Ghana Foundation had delivered over 178 major projects, impacting about five million people across the country.

"As we celebrate 30 years of progress powered by our customers and stakeholders, Season 8 is how we begin to earn that trust all over again not through what we say about ourselves, but through the Ghanaians we choose to lift," she said.

Ms. Wiafe urged the public to nominate individuals quietly making meaningful contributions within their communities, saying many of Ghana's true heroes continued to work without seeking recognition.

She explained that nominations would be independently assessed by a panel of judges, with the selection process narrowing entries from 100 nominees to 30 shortlisted projects before identifying 10 finalists. Their stories would air on television and online between December 2026 and March 2027 ahead of the awards ceremony in March 2027.

Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value, Ms. Georgina Fiagbenu, said that this year's Heroes of Change launch coincides with MTN Ghana's Sustainability Month under the theme, "Together for a Sustainable Future: Small Actions, Big Impact." She said that the initiative reflected the company's belief that ordinary Ghanaians could create lasting change through consistent acts of service, adding that Heroes of Change had spent nearly eight years recognising individuals whose small community interventions had produced significant social impact.

Season 7 overall winner and Founder of the Ark Foundation, Dr. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, said that the GH¢100,000 prize she received last year enabled the organisation to renovate its transit shelter for abused women and children, strengthening support services for survivors of abuse and human trafficking.

She described the increase in this year's prize money as significant, saying it would allow future winners to deepen the impact of their community initiatives.

Dr. Dwamena-Aboagye also encouraged Ghanaians to nominate people carrying out selfless work in their communities, noting that many deserving individuals continued to serve quietly without public recognition.