Efforts to transform Ghana’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into competitive, export-ready businesses are gaining momentum, as MTN Ghana and Nova Business School Africa intensify support for local firms through a structured capacity-building initiative.
At the heart of the programme is a clear objective to help SMEs move beyond micro-level operations and scale into sustainable, growth-oriented enterprises capable of competing across borders.
Speaking on the initiative, Prof. Mathew Tsamenyi, President and CEO of Nova Business School Africa, said Ghana’s SME sector remains constrained by limited scale, despite its importance to job creation and economic growth.
“Our SMEs are just too small. The challenge is how we support them to grow into major players in the economy and expand beyond Ghana into export-oriented markets,” he said.
He noted that while opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) continue to expand, many SMEs lack the capacity, systems, and access to capital needed to take advantage of cross-border trade.
To address this, the programme delivers a 13-week mini MBA-style training designed specifically for SME operators. The curriculum focuses on business strategy, financial management, scaling operations, and market expansion.
Beyond training, participating SMEs receive tailored business advisory services and direct exposure to investors, including venture capital and private equity firms from across Africa. This approach is intended to bridge one of the most persistent barriers facing SMEs access to growth financing.
“The idea is not just to train them, but to support them holistically from building capacity to connecting them with investors who can help scale their businesses,” Prof. Tsamenyi explained.
This year, the programme is supporting 90 SMEs, an increase from the initial pilot cohort. The businesses are grouped into three categories: women-led enterprises, youth-led businesses, and growth-stage SMEs, each receiving targeted support based on their specific needs.
The inclusion of women and youth-led businesses reflects a broader effort to ensure that SME growth is inclusive and addresses structural gaps in access to opportunity.
Importantly, the programme is fully sponsored by MTN Ghana, removing financial barriers that often prevent SMEs from accessing high-level business training.
However, organisers stress that the initiative is impact-driven and demands strong commitment from participants.
Selection into the programme is based on nominations from MTN Ghana’s SME customer base, ensuring that businesses with growth potential are identified and supported.
Looking ahead, there are plans to expand the initiative beyond Accra to other regions, including Ashanti and Northern Ghana, to reach more underserved SMEs and decentralise access to business development support.
There is also ongoing discussion about increasing the number of cohorts within the year, signalling a long-term commitment to strengthening Ghana’s SME ecosystem.
Industry observers say such interventions are critical, as SMEs continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, weak managerial capacity, and difficulty entering export markets.
By focusing on scaling, investment readiness, and regional expansion, the MTN–Nova initiative is positioning SMEs to play a more significant role in Ghana’s economic transformation.
As Prof. Tsamenyi emphasised, the future of Ghana’s private sector will depend largely on how successfully its SMEs can grow beyond survival and evolve into resilient, competitive enterprises capable of thriving within Africa’s single market.
