MTN celebrates fathers with luncheon, souvenirs
Mobile telecommunications company, MTN Ghana, last Sunday held a luncheon for some of its male loyal customers in Accra and Kumasi as part of activities marking the company’s maiden celebration of Father’s Day.
The participants who were all fathers, were with their partners, treated to a three-hour luncheon to show the company’s appreciation to fathers for their loyalty to the MTN brand and their commitment to their families.
The ceremony, which took place simultaneously at the Movenpic Ambassador Hotel in Accra and the Golden Tulip hotels in Accra and Kumasi, also saw the presentation of souvenirs of the company to the participants.
Appreciation
Speaking to the Daily Graphic during the event at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra, the Media Planning Manager of MTN Ghana, Mr Germaine Naatey, said, “This event is a way to express our appreciation and also reward our customers for being loyal to MTN for all these years.
“We have dedicated 2019 as the ‘Year of the Customer’ in order to place our customers at the heart of the MTN’s operations, hence we decided to take fathers out because of the key role they play in keeping families together,” he said.
Mr Naatey said as part of the celebration, the company gave two options to loyal customers to choose from. “We either take our customers out for lunch at the Golden Tulip Hotels in Accra or Kumasi and the Movenpick Hotel and give them some souvenirs, or we offer them vouchers to go and shop,” he stated.
Amidst live band music, the participants were offered assorted and sumptuous continental and local dishes and drinks, all in a bid to make the Father’s Day a memorable one.
Novelty
Some of the customers who spoke to the Daily Graphic during the luncheon, lauded the initiative which they described as a positive step to recognise the role of fathers in society.
The President and Founder of the Ilma Institute of Science and Technology, Dr Nii Kortey Djane, said it was positive for MTN to invite fathers to such a rewarding event.
“It will help the Ghanaian fathers to know that they are very important and have a role to play in the lives of their children,” he said.
Dr Djane suggested the need for fathers to be given at least two months paternal leave to enable them to stay at home with their children in order to build solid bonds with their families.
‘Let’s be fathers for all’
The founder of the All People’s Congress, Mr Hassan Ayariga, commended MTN for giving some fathers the opportunity to dine freely in appreciation of their commitment to the company and their families.
He reminded fathers that being a responsible father came with huge sacrifice, commitment, care and time not only for one’s children but also other fatherless children.
“I want to challenge all fathers to continue to be responsible not only for their families but also other families. When we extend our fatherhood to many other children, that is when we feel good for being a father.
“You can be a father to many children without giving birth to them and you will realise that all that you have struggled for transforms the lives of many and gives people a reason to be happy and joyful,” he stated.
The Events and Promotions Manager of Radio Gold, an Accra-based station, Mr Patrick Kwaku Afrifa, described the maiden MTN Father’s Day event as a step in the right direction.
“MTN’s decision to celebrate Father’s Day is inspiring and to the extent that they have extended such invitation to families is a laudable idea,” he stated.