MTN-Ghana launches this year’s Savanna Fest which promises health football competition among communities in Tamale and Tolon

The 2026 edition of Savanah Fest, organized by the largest mobile telephony provider, MTN Ghana has been launched at a colorful ceremony in Tamale.

This year’s event which coincides with MTN @ 30 will be marked with a lined up of activities including football/ gala competition, music concert, clean up exercise, a walk and health screening.

The launch of the Savanna Fest, which is being hosted in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, also occasioned the draw for community teams’ positions in a football competition among 16 communities in Tamale Metro and the Tolon District.

The launch, attracted MTN Regional team members, representatives from the participating communities, traditional leaders’ assignees and officials from the National Sports Authority in the region and region football authorities RFAs representatives and some retired professional footballers.

Speaking at the launch of the Savanna Fest 2026, the Area Sales Manager, Northern for MTN Ghana, Richard Asamani remarked that MTN’s three decades in Ghana has been about connecting people. According to him the company’s success has been a journey shaped by invocation, resilience, partnership and customer loyalty

Mr. Asamani said MTN-Ghana has invested significantly in its network, supported essential services during challenging periods such as covid-19 and delivered close to 200 social impact projects across health, education and economic empowerment.

“These projects have been executed as our contribution to national development. These milestones remind us that our growth has always been connected to the growth of the communities we serve,” he stated.

Mr. Asamani said Savanna Fest is one of MTN’s key regional platforms for connecting with communities, celebrating local culture, rewarding customers and strengthening relationship with traditional leaders, businesses, youth groups and stakeholders.

“This year we are bringing a rich blend of activities designed to entertain, engage, and celebrate the people of the northern region,”

He outlined that the activities which begins with community inter-football gala, featuring 16 teams has cash rewards at stake. There will also be MTN Music Concert, Cleanup exercise at the Taxi station and Teaching Hospital as well as Health walk and free health screening at the Jubilee park in Tamale.

Mr Asamani said beyond these MTN remained committed to brightening lives through meaningful community investments which include the Northern region where recent interventions include digital skills programme, SME training, Bright scholarship and the construction of a 9.7 million multi-purpose digital resource centre at the Dungu Campus of the UDS.

He encouraged TN loyalists and communities at large to take ownership of the Savanna Fest by participating fully and joining hands with MTN to celebrate culture, community, innovation and 30 years of meaningful connections

The Northern Regional Director of the National Sports Council, Ibrahim Alhassan Jihad, commended MTN for birthing the idea to put smiles on the faces of local athletes and also creating opportunities for them to exhibit their talents and skills through football competitions.

While appealing for fair officiating, he also challenged the community football teams to be discipline and control their emotions by ensuring that it’s a game and not an occasion to degenerate into chaos.

“It is a community programme you are therefore to involve your communities’ leadership including chiefs and assembly members, who are also expected to rally the masses to come support and encourage the teams,” Alhassan Jiahd admonished.

Story By; Nelson Adanuti Nyadror |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.