Tamale came alive today as MTN Ghana in collaboration with SME Grow Africa (SMEGA) and Sanlam Allianz, hosted a powerful SME Business Clinic aimed at empowering 200 women entrepreneurs in the Northern Region.
The event forms part of the year-long SME Accelerate initiative, launched by MTN Ghana on April 10, 2025 under the theme “Business done smatter, faster and better.”
The SME Business Clinic is not just a training event but a strategic intervention to unlock the growth potential of Ghana small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a special focus on women-led businesses.
In her welcome address, Adwoa Offeibea Ackonor, Manager of Enterprise Business at MTN Ghana, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting SMEs.
“SMEs like yours are the heartbeat of Ghana’s economy. You create jobs, you innovate and you drive the growth of our communities”, she declared.
But she was quick to acknowledge the challenges which include access to finance, markets and technology which she said remain major barriers for many entrepreneurs. According to her, this is exactly why MTN Ghana in partnership with Sanlam Allianz and SMEGA, designed this programme to provide tools, knowledge and networks that SMEs need to thrive.
“Together, we are committed to supporting your growth journey and helping to build more resilient, sustainable and competitive enterprises.”
Ackonor highlighted that the three-day clinic would equip participants with skills in financial readiness, risk navigation and sustainability planning. She emphasized MTN’s pride in hosting the programme in Tamale, a city she described as “known for its enterprising spirit and potential.”
Eric Antwi, Regional Sales Manager for MTN Northern Business, explained the broader purpose of the SME Accelerate initiative, which is being implemented in four major cities – Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi.
“The objective is to help SMEs grow through training, technology and financial support,” Antwi noted. “In Tamale, the focus is threefold: training SMEs in everyday operations, aligning them with global business trends and helping them sustain their businesses long-term.”
He also introduced some key products under the initiative including EDWUMAPA, a business support package tailored specifically for women which includes access to insurance via Sanlam. Another innovation, YELLOWBESS, offers SMEs a digital business starter kit, complete with a website, call centre access, Microsoft tools and 10GB of free data.
“We realized women carry 70% of the SME space and so EDWUMAPA is to ensure that women in business grow sustainably,” he explained.
According to Antwi, the clinic also includes a 10-day market activation campaign in Tamale, giving businesses the chance to showcase and grow using MTN’s tools and platforms.
For Kwesi Ofori Jnr, Executive Director of SMEGA, the Tamale clinic goes beyond just training. It is about reshaping the entire SME ecosystem in Ghana.
“Most SMEs don’t keep proper records. They don’t understand that financial recording is an essential part of their business,” Ofori emphasized. “This programme is to open their eyes to the relevant building blocks of running a structured business.”
SMEGA is leveraging practical, scenario-based learning to teach bookkeeping, cash flow management and financial literacy. Ofori underscored the urgency of addressing policy bottlenecks and red tape that are stifling the growth of startups in Ghana.
“Out of every 10 businesses formed, only one or two may survive beyond five years,” he cited. “If we reduce the red tape and provide structure from the start, five or six could survive instead.”
The clinic includes a focus group discussion scheduled for Thursday to hear directly from SMEs about the barriers they face, from formalization to regulatory hurdles. The outcomes will feed into future advocacy efforts with stakeholders like the Ghana Enterprise Agency.
The Tamale SME Business Clinic is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships in driving inclusive economic development. With women making up the majority of Ghana’s SME sector, this initiative stands to make a meaningful impact.
“When an SME employs one person, the salary pays school fees, puts food on the table and covers medical bills,” Ofori said. “If they give up, the country shrinks. But if they thrive, Ghana thrives.”
Source: www.KumasiMail.Com/Joseph Ziem
