MTN Ghana has taken another significant step in supporting the growth and development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Central Region.
As part of its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and boosting economic development, MTN Ghana has provided financial support to 50 SMEs in the Central Region. The support forms part of MTN’s SME Support Programme, a five-year project aimed at supporting 500 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises across Ghana.
The programme focuses on businesses led by youth, women, or persons with disabilities. Beneficiaries were selected from various sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, technology, and trade.
According to Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN, the programme aims to provide necessary tools and resources for entrepreneurs to succeed.
“We recognize the critical role SMEs play in driving Ghana’s economic growth,” she said. “Our SME Support Programme will provide up to GH¢20,000 for these businesses, enabling them to market online, adopt new business practices, scale their businesses, and access finance or formal finance if necessary.”
The MTN Ghana SME Support Programme is a legacy project of MTN Ghana, launched as part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations in 2023. The project will support 500 MSMEs across Ghana over a 5-year period until 2027.
“Our focus is to support businesses led by youth, women, or persons with disabilities with business development services and funding to grow their businesses,” said Afriyie Wiafe.
The project is an initiative of the MTN Ghana Foundation in partnership with Innohub Foundation, an enterprise support organization, through the Enterprise Support Programme.
Nelson Madiba Amo, Executive Director of Innohub Foundation, emphasized that their role involves identifying, selecting, training, and providing financial support to these businesses. The goal is to help SMEs overcome financial constraints and scale up their operations.
“We believe that for most of these businesses, access to finance limits their growth. So, as they’re getting the support from this program, where they’re getting funding, training, and capacity building, we anticipate and expect that they will grow their businesses, increase their customer base, revenues, and make good use of MTN’s platforms,” he said.
Amo encouraged beneficiaries to utilize the support effectively, create jobs, and contribute to Ghana’s food security.
“This is not just free money; it’s a critical seed to grow your business. Multiply it, and you’ll see bigger growth and expansion,” he urged.
Beneficiaries of the program expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support, citing its transformative impact on their businesses. “MTN’s SME Support Programme has been a game-changer for us, enabling us to expand our customer base, increase production, and create jobs for young people. We are grateful for the training, funding, and opportunity to grow our businesses,” they said.
This year, MTN Ghana committed GH¢2 million to the programme, doubling last year’s investment. Across the country, 150 beneficiaries were selected, with 50 from the Central Region.
MTN Ghana remains committed to contributing to Ghana’s socio-economic development through innovative initiatives and partnerships.
Source: Kofitutunews.com
