MTN Business has stepped up efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Eastern Region through digital transformation initiatives and business capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing productivity, sustainability and job creation.
The move forms part of the company’s broader commitment to strengthening Ghana’s SME sector, which remains a major contributor to economic growth and employment.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the opening of the SME Business Clinic in Koforidua, Mr. Abubakari-Sidick Mohammed, Senior Manager for SME Sales at MTN Business, said empowering SMEs with digital tools and practical business skills was critical to improving their competitiveness and long-term success.
He noted that although SMEs play a pivotal role in Ghana’s economy, many continue to face operational and technological challenges that limit their growth potential.
According to him, the SME Business Clinic was introduced under MTN’s “SME Accelerate” programme, a year-long initiative designed to provide mentorship, training, visibility and digital support for small businesses across the country.
“The objective is to help SMEs become more sustainable and efficient by addressing some of the practical challenges they encounter in managing and growing their businesses,” he said.
Mr. Mohammed explained that the clinic focuses on equipping entrepreneurs with essential business management skills, including bookkeeping, branding, packaging, labelling and digital business operations.
He observed that one of the common mistakes among small business owners is the inability to separate personal expenses from business finances, a practice that often weakens business performance and limits expansion opportunities.
“The business is an artificial human being, and you need to treat it as such. You should not deplete the capital you invested in the business,” he advised.
As part of its digital transformation agenda, MTN Business has developed a range of technology solutions tailored to the needs of SMEs through its YellowBiz platform.
Mr. Mohammed said the platform provides businesses with internet connectivity, website development services, customised business email domains and access to Microsoft 365 productivity tools.
These solutions, he explained, are designed to improve operational efficiency, strengthen professional credibility and expand market reach beyond Ghana’s borders.
“Having an online presence enables potential customers and partners from outside Ghana to discover and engage with local businesses, while customised email domains help enhance trust and professionalism,” he said.
The company has also introduced Business Eye, a digital monitoring solution that allows business owners to remotely supervise daily operations and monitor activities in real time.
According to Mr. Mohammed, the technology helps entrepreneurs maintain greater oversight of their businesses even when they are away from their premises.
Recognising the growing role of women in entrepreneurship, MTN Business has further launched the Adwumapa package, a dedicated offering aimed at supporting women-owned enterprises.
The package includes affordable voice and data bundles, insurance benefits and access to telemedicine services through the Doctor on Call platform.
Mr. Mohammed noted that women own an estimated 51 to 52 per cent of SMEs in Ghana, making targeted interventions for female entrepreneurs essential to strengthening the sector.
He described SMEs as the backbone of the Ghanaian economy, contributing between 70 and 80 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and generating nearly 90 per cent of employment opportunities nationwide.
“For me, SMEs are one of the strongest solutions to Ghana’s unemployment challenge because they create jobs across every sector of the economy,” he stated.
He added that MTN Business was implementing the SME Business Clinic in partnership with SMEGA Africa to ensure that business development support reaches entrepreneurs in various regions of the country.
The initiative is expected to help equip SMEs with the skills, technology and resources needed to improve productivity, increase competitiveness and contribute more effectively to Ghana’s economic transformation.
