MTN CEO Ralph Mupita Calls for Borderless Africa to Boost Economic Growth

Ralph Mupita, chief executive of MTN Group, addressed the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Seminar on 23 July 2026 and urged African governments to remove xenophobic and regulatory barriers that impede the free movement of people, talent and investment across the continent. He argued that deeper regional integration, supported by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), is essential for unlocking Africa’s economic potential and sustaining its digital economy.

Mupita highlighted that roughly 80 % of MTN’s earnings are generated outside South Africa, using the company’s pan‑African model as evidence that cross‑border trade and investment drive profitability. He called for stable, predictable regulatory frameworks to attract long‑term capital and urged public‑private collaboration to create inclusive economic opportunities throughout Africa.