The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Ms. Margaret Ansei, has called on Ghanaian entrepreneurs to embrace innovation, adapt to changing times, and leverage technology to build sustainable businesses.
She made the call at the launch of the MTN SME Accelerate Programme in Accra on Thursday, describing the initiative as a strategic catalyst for transforming Ghana’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Ms. Ansei commended MTN Ghana for its forward-thinking approach, describing the programme as timely and aligned with the national agenda for a 24-hour economy.
She said the theme: “Business Done Smarter, Faster, and Better,” could not be more appropriate, because in today’s fast-evolving world, the future belongs to those who can embrace change, leverage technology, and drive smart solutions to sustain their businesses.
Ms. Ansei emphasized that the GEA’s own strategic initiatives, including the SME Innovation and Inclusion Programme: Digitalize for Jobs (D4J), in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the U-Spark Project under the UNIDO KAIZEN Expansion are focused on equipping MSMEs with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy.
“These interventions are not just about access to finance, but they are about building an ecosystem of innovation where MSMEs from rural seamstresses to youth-led agro-processors can thrive in the digital age,” she said.
Positioning the MTN SME Accelerate Programme within the broader national development context, Ms. Ansei linked it to former President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy vision, a policy she described as a bold step toward transforming Ghana’s productivity landscape.
“President Mahama’s 24-hour economy is not just about extending business hours but it’s about reimagining productivity, creating jobs, and building businesses that run around the clock,” she said.
She added that to do this, MSMEs need digital tools, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships like this from MTN.
She lauded MTN Ghana for going beyond its traditional telecommunications role to become a “technology enabler” and urged entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the Accelerator platform to grow and scale their businesses for both local and international markets.
MTN Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to SMEs via social media, stating: “Today marks the beginning of brighter things to come for small businesses. SME Accelerate is designed to position SMEs to work smarter, faster and better with lots of opportunities to move ahead in business.“
The MTN SME Accelerate Programme is set to empower thousands of MSMEs across Ghana through access to digital tools, business advisory services, and capacity development aimed at improving operational efficiency and market competitiveness.
