By Stanley Senya
Accra, July 1, GNA – The Government, with private sector and development partners, has announced initiatives to accelerate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. (MSME) growth through digital transformation, improved access to finance, and business development support,
The initiatives were unveiled at the launch of the national celebration of the 2026 World Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day in Accra, on the theme: “Elevating the Future Generation of Ghana’s MSMEs Through Digital Empowerment and Innovation.”
Mr Mohammed Abubakari-Sidick, Senior Manager for SME Sales, Partnerships and Business Broadband at MTN Ghana, speaking on behalf of the Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Ms Angela Mensah-Poku, described MSMEs as the backbone of Ghana’s economy and reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to their growth.
He said MTN Business continued to invest in digital infrastructure and enterprise solutions to help small businesses improve efficiency, expand their customer base and conduct secure digital transactions.
Mr Abubakari-Sidick highlighted the MTN SME Accelerate Programme, which provides sector-specific training, one-on-one SME clinics and the annual MTN SME Awards.
He said more than 700 SMEs in Ho, Kumasi and Koforidua had benefited from the programme this year, with plans to extend it to Tamale, Takoradi and Accra.
As part of the event, MTN Ghana announced support for the MSME Business Pitch Competition, under which five entrepreneurs will each receive GH¢30,000 and an MTN YellowBiz package to support business expansion.
He called for stronger collaboration among government, development partners and the private sector to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“We remain committed to building an inclusive business ecosystem that provides enterprises with the technology, skills and support required for sustainable growth,” he said.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Mr Yaw Sakyi, Director of Administration at the Ministry, announced that government would introduce a dedicated financing support programme to help MSMEs develop bankable proposals and improve access to credit.
He said the initiative, to be implemented with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and partners, would equip entrepreneurs with the skills to prepare investment-ready proposals for financial institutions.
Mr Sakyi said between the third quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, the GEA and partners provided business development services to more than 306,000 MSMEs nationwide.
He said about 70 per cent of beneficiaries were women-led enterprises, while 95,000 youth-led businesses benefited from programmes such as the Business in a Box Project, the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project and the Harnessing Agriculture Productivity and Prosperity for Youth Project.
He added that 3,000 businesses received training in digital skills, e-commerce and artificial intelligence readiness, while 12,000 were supported to formalise their operations.
Additionally, 13,000 MSMEs accessed financing or were linked to financial institutions, while 6,000 benefited from market access and export readiness support across all 16 regions.
Mr Sakyi said access to affordable finance, technology adoption, standards compliance and market access remained major challenges for MSMEs.
To address export barriers, he said the Ministry was working with the Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority to help businesses meet international quality and food safety standards.
He announced that a certification support programme would soon be introduced to assist MSMEs in obtaining requirements needed to access international markets.
Mrs Margaret Ansei, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, said businesses must embrace digital transformation to remain competitive globally.
She announced the launch of the MSME Digital Gateway, developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), describing it as a one-stop platform offering business information, market intelligence and digital connectivity.
She said the platform also integrates the Ghana Entrepreneurship Policy Toolkit, developed with GIZ, to simplify regulatory processes and support enterprise growth.
Mr Niloy Banerjee, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, said MSMEs account for nearly 90 per cent of businesses and over 70 per cent of private sector employment, making them central to Ghana’s economic development.
He said the Digital Gateway includes an e-commerce platform for business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions, as well as a digital identity system to help firms securely manage information.
Mr Banerjee said the initiative reflects strong collaboration between UNDP, GEA, GIZ and other partners to strengthen digital inclusion and expand market access for Ghanaian entrepreneurs.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu