MTN Ghana has launched the 2026 edition of its SME Accelerate programme, demonstrating its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow, digitise and compete more effectively in Ghana’s evolving economy.
The year-long programme, which was launched at MTN House, on Friday, March 13, 2026 brought together policymakers, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to explore ways of strengthening Ghana’s SME ecosystem and expanding opportunities for business growth.
Delivering the welcome address, the Chief Enterprise Officer of MTN Ghana, Angela Mensah-Poku, described SMEs as the backbone of Ghana’s economic growth and innovation.
She stated that while MTN had historically served as a connectivity partner for businesses, the company was now positioned as a catalyst for their growth.
“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 explained that the SME Accelerate programme formed part of MTN’s commitment to equip entrepreneurs with the tools, training and partnerships required to operate better, faster and smarter in an increasingly digital business environment.
SME Regional Clinics
Ms Mensah-Poku announced that this year’s programme would include SME Regional Clinics aimed at bringing capacity-building opportunities closer to entrepreneurs across the country.
Angela Mensah-Poku, the Chief Enterprise Officer of MTN Ghana and some SME partners at the SME Accelerate launch
The clinics will be held in major business hubs, including Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi. The sessions will provide entrepreneurs with training in digital tools, financial management and business mentorship.
She added that the initiative aligned with MTN Ghana’s 30-year journey in the country, during which the company had grown alongside local businesses and supported entrepreneurship across multiple sectors.
CEO’s message
In a video message played at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, emphasised the critical role SMEs played in national development and the need to address structural barriers that limited their growth.
Poet Nana Asaase performing during the launch of SME Accelerate
“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 added.
Youth Development Minister
The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, described the SME Accelerate programme as a vital platform for empowering young entrepreneurs and driving Ghana’s economic transformation.
He said “what drives entrepreneurs 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.”
Mr Opare Addo said the MTN SME Accelerate programme was not just another initiative, it was 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.
The CEO of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Margaret Ansei, commended MTN Ghana for launching the initiative, describing it as the type of structured private-sector programme needed to support SME development in the country.
“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”.
Some dignitaries present at the launch included a representative from UNDP, Seth Akomani, the President of Nova Business School Africa, Professor Mathew Tsamenyi, SME partners and others.
The SME Accelerate initiative, now in its third edition, is a year-long programme designed to support the growth and sustainability of small and medium enterprises across Ghana.
This year’s activities will include SME clinics across six regions, business webinars, exhibitions, and curated networking opportunities for entrepreneurs.
The programme will also feature targeted initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs, youth-led businesses, family-owned enterprises and businesses run by persons with disabilities.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
