MTN Ghana’s parent company, Scancom PLC, has produced an outstanding set of first-quarter results, driven by a startling 35.7% increase in service revenue and a drastic change to its payout policy that will now pay dividends to stockholders every three months.
After completing the structural separation of its mobile money operation on March 31, 2026, the telecom behemoth declared a profit after tax of GH₵2.48 billion for the three months ending in March 2026. This is a 46.8% increase over the same period previous year. From 12.8 pesewas to 18.7 pesewas, earnings per share increased.
Investors, however, are most interested in the board’s move to dismantle the previous dividend rulebook. Moving away from the customary interim and final dividend payouts, MTN Ghana has legally changed its dividend policy to allow the declaration of interim dividends following each quarterly result.
The business affirmed that it will continue to pay out between 60 and 80 percent of its yearly revenues.
Two distinct dividend streams will now be distributed to shareholders in a ground-breaking move. For the first quarter, Scancom PLC has announced a gross interim dividend of three pesewas per share, which will be paid on June 18, 2026.
Furthermore, subject to shareholder approval, the recently split Mobile Money Fintech LTD, which is still attached to MTNGH shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange, has suggested an additional three pesewas per share.
This increases the possible dividend during the first quarter to six pesewas per share.
The performance was a demonstration of rigorous execution, according to MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett.
Speaking during the earnings release, he pointed out that the macroeconomic climate in Ghana had greatly improved, with inflation falling to 3.2% in March from 5.4% in December, giving household incomes much-needed respite and easing cost pressures throughout the value chain.
The figures themselves are astounding. Due to a 52.3% increase in data revenue to GHS4.29 billion, service revenue reached GHS7.26 billion.
The number of active data users increased by 16% to 20.6 million, and each of those subscribers currently uses almost 19 gigabytes per month, a 40.9% increase.
Digital revenue more than doubled, jumping 107% to GHS170 million, while mobile money revenue increased 28.4% to GHS1.71 billion.
Given the fierce competition in the industry, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation increased by 42.9% to GHS4.45 billion, while the EBITDA margin increased by 3.1 percentage points to 61.2%.
Blewett credited the impressive performance to continuous investments in network capacity and ecosystem relationships, as well as sustained momentum across data, mobile money, voice, and digital services.
He also emphasised the company’s growing dedication to environmental, social, and governance values, citing a GHS15.4 million accident and emergency center that was given to the Ho Teaching Hospital and a blood drive that raised over 7,000 units in all sixteen regions.
MTN Ghana paid GHS92.2 million in fees and levies to government organisations during the quarter, in addition to GHS2.8 billion in direct and indirect taxes.
Although ex-lease capital expenditures came in at GHS188.1 million, the total capital expenditure was GHS313.96 million, indicating a purposeful value-based allocation strategy.
The qualifying date is Friday, June 5, 2026, and the ex-dividend date for both distributions is Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The money will be electronically transmitted to bank accounts or mobile money wallets on Thursday, June 18.
Although Blewett warned that ongoing geopolitical concerns and their possible knock-on effects on gasoline costs and the local economy could necessitate a reevaluation in future reporting periods, MTN Ghana reaffirmed its medium-term service revenue growth and margin guidance.
Source: newsthemegh.com