MTN Ghana has launched the 2026 edition of its SME Accelerate programme, aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow and digitise their operations.
The year-long initiative was launched at MTN House on Friday, March 13, 2026, bringing together policymakers, industry players and entrepreneurs.
Chief Enterprise Officer of MTN Ghana, Angela Mensah-Poku, said the programme is part of efforts to strengthen SMEs, which she described as central to the country’s economy. “We are not here today just to launch a programme; we are here to continue a movement. For years, MTN has been your connection. Today, we are your catalyst,” she said.
She said this year’s edition will introduce SME Regional Clinics in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi to provide training in digital tools, financial management and mentorship.
In a recorded message, MTN Ghana Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, said the company aims to address barriers to SME growth through technology and financial systems. “As a technology and fintech platform operating on a national scale, we sit at a unique intersection of connectivity, financial services, data infrastructure and enterprise enablement. That position gives us both responsibility and opportunity. Our goal is to reduce the structural barriers that limit SME growth by enabling entrepreneurship through technology, strengthened business capability and investments in systems that support sustainable scale,” he said.
Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, said the initiative supports young entrepreneurs and private sector growth. “What drives entrepreneurs forward is the belief that something small can grow into something significant. Government can build the roads and create the legal framework, but it is the private sector that provides the vehicles that move on those roads. The MTN SME Accelerate programme is not just another initiative, it is a practical response to the aspirations of thousands of Ghanaian entrepreneurs who are determined to grow their businesses and compete in the modern digital economy,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Margaret Ansei, said such programmes are needed to support business growth. “This is the type of initiative that Ghanaians need, a more of structured, private sector-led programmes designed to move businesses forward. When an SME grows, it does not grow alone. It pulls suppliers, employees, families and entire communities along with it,” she said.
The programme, now in its third edition, will include regional SME clinics, webinars, exhibitions and networking sessions. It will also target women, youth-led businesses, family-owned enterprises and persons with disabilities.
Dignitaries at the launch included a representative of UNDP, Seth Akomani, and President of Nova Business School Africa, Prof. Mathew Tsamenyi, among others.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
