An over-subscribed Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Business Clinic organised by MTN Ghana and its partners has ended in Ho, with young entrepreneurs urged to adopt deliberate strategies to achieve business success.
The clinic, which formed part of efforts to build the capacity of small businesses across the country, drew far more participants than expected. Organisers had targeted about 160 participants but attendance exceeded 250, forcing the venue, Stevens Hotel, to accommodate a larger-than-anticipated crowd.
The event was organised in partnership with SMEGA (SME GrowAfrica) and Ephesus Business School. The high patronage, organisers said, reflected the growing determination among young entrepreneurs in the region to become self-reliant and competitive.
Ms Louisa Ago Anarfi, Manager for SME Sales (South) at MTN Ghana, said the enthusiasm displayed by participants reinforced the importance of the SME Accelerate MTN Business initiative, which aims to train and empower micro, small and medium-scale enterprises across the country.
She said SMEs remained the backbone of the economy and noted that the business clinic was designed to help participants build, grow and scale their businesses into sustainable ventures.
Ms Anarfi disclosed that four regions, including Ashanti and Northern, benefited from the initiative last year, while the current programme had been extended to the Volta and Eastern Regions this year.
She said MTN had also introduced a range of support packages for SMEs under its Adwumapa initiative, including specially tailored bundles for voice, data and SMS, as well as additional data packages that allow entrepreneurs to access specific social media platforms for business promotion.
She added that clients who subscribe to the SME Adwumapa initiative could also benefit from an insurance package valued at GH¢8,000 for continuous subscriptions between three and six months, covering ill-health and fire disasters, with a doctor-on-call service included.
Ms Maame Ama Simpson, Manager for Enterprise Segment and Product Development at MTN Ghana, said the SME Accelerate programme built on earlier initiatives such as pop-up shops, SME Awards and market fairs aimed at supporting small businesses.
She said the company had also introduced webinars featuring experienced entrepreneurs to mentor and guide young business owners across the country.
Ms Simpson acknowledged that SMEs continued to face major challenges, including limited access to markets, finance, digital tools and advertising. She, however, assured participants that MTN remained committed to providing reliable connectivity and digital platforms to help businesses overcome those barriers.
Mr Kwesi Ofori Jr, Executive Director of SMEGA, stressed the need for SMEs to restructure their operations to improve human resource management, financial reporting and record-keeping.
He revealed plans to connect promising SMEs with mentors and funding opportunities, including partnerships with organisations in the Netherlands.
“Our goal is to help SMEs become globally competitive and transition from micro-enterprises to established businesses,” he said, adding that strengthening the SME sector would contribute to economic growth, reduce unemployment and promote sustainability.
Mr Daniel Nii Otokunor Sackey, Managing Consultant at Ephesus Business School and Lead Trainer for the programme, said the failure rate of small-scale businesses in Ghana remained high, with about 74 per cent failing within a few years of operation.
He urged young entrepreneurs to commit to continuous training, emphasising that financial discipline and the effective use of technology could help small businesses grow into stable and competitive enterprises.
Participants at the two-day clinic received hands-on training in financial record-keeping, reporting, working capital management, risk identification and cost-benefit analysis.
Some of the young entrepreneurs who attended the programme commended MTN and its partners for the initiative, describing the training as an eye-opening experience that had broadened their understanding of business and encouraged them to aim higher.
