MTN Group Paid Approximately $3Bn in Taxes Across Africa in 2024

The MTN Group contributed a total of R52.7 billion ($3.00 billion USD) in taxes across its African markets in 2024, the company disclosed in its latest Tax Transparency Report. The figure includes direct corporate taxes, indirect taxes, licence fees, payroll taxes, dividend and withholding taxes, and other statutory charges paid across 16 countries.

In Ghana alone, MTN paid R11.7 billion, making it one of the company’s highest tax contributions on the continent. Nigeria followed with R9.1 billion, Uganda R6.4 billion, and South Africa R5.4 billion.

“Using a ballpark figure of around R4 million as the cost to build one kilometre of road, our total tax contribution in the year is the equivalent of building more than 13 000km of roads,” said MTN Group Chief Financial Officer Tsholo Molefe.

Beyond infrastructure, Molefe emphasized that the taxes support a range of public goods including healthcare, education, social protection, and local services. “Our tax contribution is key to our licence to operate, as well as to our reputation as a responsible, compliant corporate citizen,” she said.

MTN’s tax footprint underscores its role not only as a major telecom provider but also as a significant contributor to national budgets and public investment. The report indicates that MTN’s West and Central Africa (WECA) region, comprising Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Congo-Brazzaville, and Liberia, accounted for 52.8% of the company’s total tax contribution.

Nigeria alone represented 17.3% of the group’s total tax bill, while the Southern and East Africa (SEA) region, including Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, and others, contributed 17.1%. MTN South Africa made up 10.2% of the total.

The annual Tax Transparency Report offers insight into MTN’s tax policy and governance, and is intended to provide stakeholders with a clearer view of how the company contributes to the broader economy beyond its telecom services.

“We are humbled that the taxes we pay contribute to accelerating Africa’s digital future and to giving Africans hope, dignity and opportunity,” Molefe said. “We invite stakeholders to read our Tax Transparency Report for information on one of the ways we do this, in addition to our primary activity of providing Africans with the essential services required to communicate.”

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