MTN, has said its approach to human capital development, through corporate social initiatives, outside the company, and employee training, within the business, “is not for the optics,” rather, it is informed by the knowledge that people are its greatest assets and data which proves that investing in them is a prudent economic choice.
Speaking to the B&FT in an in-depth interview, Chief Human Resource Officer at MTN, Amma Benneh-Amponsah said despite increasing skepticism about the motives with which many firms, especially multinational companies, approach social engagements, her outfit has earned goodwill because people development is enshrined in its ethos.
“As a business we value all our stakeholders be it our customers, regulators, media, and communities in which we operate. We value our staff and put in equal measures to support them just as we support our communities. Supporting both internal and external stakeholders are key to the sustenance of our business and we don’t engage in them for the optics but an integral part of our purpose as a business,” she explained.
“At MTN, we appreciate the immense value of people,” she continued, saying this has been at the heart of the more than GH¢53.3 million, the company, through its foundation has invested in social projects, that has, directly and indirectly, impacted more than four million people, particularly over the last 14 years, with 87 initiatives in education, 52 in healthcare and 13 in economic empowerment.
Even in the throes of the pandemic, with austere measures implemented across the board, the company saw employee expenditure grow by 14.8%, a development Ms. Benneh-Amponsah says, amongst other things, is testament to MTN’s dedication towards its people.
Women in focus
Despite a growth in the representation of women at the highest levels of decision-making in the corporate sphere, some critics have described most instances as mere tokenism, seeking to pander to heightened calls for inclusion and playing to the gallery of diversity.
Reacting to this concern, the MTN human resources manager said the company has taken a two-pronged approach of empowering women and creating a conducive environment for growth, expression and participation, within the company and across its spheres of influence.
She stated that as part of the organisation’s efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace, initiatives such as the Women-in-Technology Programme have been instituted “to build readiness for leadership roles for women in areas of the business where women are underrepresented.”
“The programme is aimed at deploying bespoke development to help women to effectively manage their careers and navigate their way in the workplace,” she explained. “We believe in pipeline development on this subject and we partner with tertiary institutions and organisations to identify and grow female talent via internships, the national service programme, and our graduate development programme.”
IiP
These thoughts were shared against the backdrop of MTN attaining the Investors in People Platinum Accreditation issued by the United Kingdom-based Investors in People (IiP) International. The human resources professional asserted that MTN is keen on maintaining the accreditation and intends to do so by upholding global best practices and people standards which she described as a key enabler for a great workplace ambiance, an inspired workforce and a superior employee experience.
“We plan on reviewing our assessment report with employees across the business to map our next steps together. It is important that we continuously look for ways to sustain and improve the HR experience for productive outcomes. This accreditation should have a direct impact on our product and service offerings to our valued customers, impact the bottom line for shareholder value and enable our communities positively.”
Investors in People is one of the world’s leading people management standards and it is a business improvement tool designed to help organisations attain sustainable performance through their people.
