MTN Ghana to empower SMEs

MTN Ghana has launched its 2024 Business SME Month, an initiative aimed at empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the country. 

Dubbed: "Business Done Smarter, Faster and Better" it underscores the group's commitment to fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and bolster the growth and sustainability of local businesses in the country.

The month-long event, which kicked off with a mini-fair at the launch showcased some of the initiatives and services available to SMEs. 

It will also continue with a  series of activities including the Africa Business Innovation Conference in Accra, capacity training sessions, Women in Business Roadshows, and SME fairs across selected regions. 

Commitment 

The Senior Manager, Business Sale, Mohammed Abubakari-Sidick, on behalf of the management said the company was committed to supporting SMEs, which are vital to the African economy.

"SMEs and micro-SMEs drive innovation, create jobs, and foster sustainable development. As an African brand, we want to see these businesses thrive, not just survive,” he said.

The programme, he said would focus on digital transformation, access to financing, collaboration and partnerships, skills development, as well as market expansion. 

Throughout the month, Mr Abubakari-Sidick said they would offer valuable experiences and services to its customers, ensuring that SMEs not only survive but also flourish in today’s competitive market. 

Efforts 

The Director of Policy Planning , Monitoring, Research, and Evaluation, Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Philomina Dsane on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer(CEO), said the theme aligned with GEA's ongoing efforts to empower Ghanaian businesses in the digital age.

"GEA is a driving force in empowering Ghanaian businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises, to thrive in today's digital landscape," she said. 

She said they offer targeted programs to equip MSMEs with essential digital skills, from e-commerce strategies to social media marketing. 

She outlined several key initiatives, including collaborations with financial institutions to develop specialised financial solutions, the establishment of digital hubs, and the Digitalise for Jobs initiative, which has trained over 600 women in digital literacy and business practices. "These hubs will serve as collaborative spaces, offering high-speed internet access, shared workplaces, and technical assistance to MSMEs," she added. 

Mrs Dsane said their goal was to inspire businesses to embrace technology-driven strategies for sustainable growth and competitiveness.

She therefore urged all SMEs to actively participate in the planned activities, leverage knowledge-sharing opportunities, and forge meaningful partnerships.

"Together, let us chart a course toward a future where SMEs thrive and continue to drive our economy forward," she added.

Workforce

The Accra Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Tsonam Akpeloo, said SMEs employ more than 80 per cent of the workforce and contribute about 70 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Highlighting the importance of technology in modern business operations, Mr. Akpeloo urged SMEs to integrate high-tech solutions to automate processes and increase efficiency. 

He said technology helped to streamline processes, maintain data flow, and manage contacts and employee records, thereby reducing operational costs and fostering rapid business growth. “Fortunately, a significant majority of our SMEs are well versed in the use of ICT based enablers. The cost however of investment in high-tech remains a barrier to access, not to mention the cost of data,” he stressed

He commended MTN Ghana for providing the enablers and tools that can drive and transform SMEs and expressed the hope that expressed hope that the SMART initiatives would provide SMEs with the necessary opportunities to overcome these challenges. 

Mr Akpeloo said AGI’s was committed to collaborate with the government to deploy the necessary support for SMEs in the country.