MTN launches 2024 SMEs Month
By Christabel Oboshie ANNAN, Accra
MTN Ghana has launched its 2024 edition of MTN SME Month to drive and empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
The initiative, welcomed by SME owners, aims to create a month-long awareness of issues hindering the growth of players in Ghana’s SME sector, which employs about 80 percent of the population.
SME Month will also give MTN Ghana the opportunity to get closer to SMEs and expose them to its SME solutions, including SME Plus and Business Manager.
The Chief Enterprise Business Officer at MTN Ghana, Angela Mensah Poku, stated that July is dubbed SME Month at MTN, where the company reaches out to SME customers.
She explained that the goal is to ensure that SMEs are in focus, as they are the drivers of the economy.
“When you look at our SME sector, they tend to be more informal, and as a technology company, it is important that we understand our customers and bring digital solutions to them,” she said.
She added that last year, during SME Month, some SMEs expressed the need for not only business solutions but also support in capacity building and training.
“So, we got our partners to come on board and help us with it. They also said they needed access to insurance, financing, and networking. Therefore, this month, we have all these activities with our partners to drive and empower SMEs in the country,” she stressed.
Madam Mensah Poku highlighted one of the activities the company is particularly excited about, in conjunction with Absa, called “Our Women Roadshows.” She noted that female-owned businesses make up most informal businesses across the continent.
She advised SME owners to take the opportunity to connect with other female entrepreneurs for training and skills acquisition to build and formalize their businesses.
“We are just one part of the bigger ecosystem. I am proud to launch today’s SME Month, and we hope that you continue to drive this throughout the year. This isn’t just a monthly thing; we will continue every month with new products, new services, and new partnerships. We are always here to get feedback from our SMEs and our customers on what we can do better. That is why the month of July is our SME Month.”
Madam Mensah Poku noted that as part of SME Month, several activities will take place at market centers in Accra, Kumasi, and towns across the 16 regions of the country.
In addition to these activities, the Senior Manager of SME Sales at MTN Ghana, Saddick Abubakari, mentioned some key activities for the month, including SME fairs, which the company organizes for SME players to exhibit their products.
“Within the fairs, these SMEs are also able to network and share ideas with themselves, friends, and others,” he said.
A representative of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Tsonam Akpeloo, emphasized the critical importance of SMEs in the country.
Despite their significant contribution to Ghana’s economy, he stated that SMEs remain vulnerable to economic downturns.
According to him, MTN SME Month will significantly drive and empower SME players in the country.
“To this end, AGI commends MTN Ghana for this event,” he said.
