MTN Ghana Launches SME Month to Empower Small Businesses

MTN Ghana has unveiled its SME Month initiative, aimed at empowering small businesses with the necessary support, resources, and platforms to enhance their operations. The 2024 SME Month, scheduled for July, also aims to recognize and appreciate the significant contributions of the SME sector to the country’s economy and job creation.

Empowering SMEs for Growth

At the launch event, Mohammed Abubakari-Sadick, Head of SME at MTN Ghana, outlined the objectives of SME Month. He emphasized that the initiative would empower businesses with “digital information, access to finance,” and other essential tools. Abubakari-Sadick highlighted the critical role of SMEs, stating, “Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the country… As an African brand, we want to see these businesses thrive, not just survive. And to do this, we must empower our SMEs with digital transformation, access to financing, collaboration and partnerships, skills development, and market expansion.”

Activities and Events

The month-long celebration will feature various activities, including fairs in Accra and Kumasi, an innovation conference in Accra, capacity training sessions, and women-in-business workshops. These events aim to provide SMEs with the knowledge and tools needed to grow and succeed.

Focus on Digital Transformation

Angela Mensah-Poku , Chief Enterprise Officer at MTN Ghana, stated that throughout SME Month, businesses would have the opportunity to digitize their operations and collaborate with partners within the MTN and SME ecosystem. This includes initiatives like capability-building, e-bookkeeping, and digital marketing.

Addressing Cybersecurity Concerns

Uncle Seth Twum-Akwaboah , CEO of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), urged MTN to take strict precautions against cyber-attacks. He noted that fraudulent activities in cyberspace remain a significant barrier to SMEs’ adoption of digital solutions. Twum-Akwaboah stressed the importance of cybersecurity, stating, “With all of these solutions that we’re trying to use to support SMEs, let’s ensure we take cyber-security very seriously and ensure that we minimize these incidents of our neighboring companies going through fraudulent activities.”

Overcoming Data and Internet Challenges

Twum-Akwaboah also highlighted the challenges SMEs face regarding data costs and Internet service quality. He acknowledged that while many SMEs are familiar with ICT-based tools, the high cost of data and unstable Internet services remain obstacles. In response, MTN Ghana is actively addressing these issues by investing significantly in network improvements. “We are investing billions of dollars to ensure that we can fix our network issues and optimize the network across the country,” he said.

Conclusion

MTN Ghana’s SME Month initiative is a comprehensive effort to support and empower small businesses in Ghana. By providing essential resources, promoting digital transformation, and addressing cybersecurity and connectivity challenges, MTN aims to foster a thriving SME sector that can drive economic growth and job creation.