BTA Admin The telecom giant is expanding its investment in entrepreneurship as small businesses remain the backbone of Ghana’s economy and one of the country’s biggest sources of job creation.
MTN Ghana has awarded GHS150,000 in grants to five high-potential small businesses as part of a broader initiative to strengthen entrepreneurship, digital adoption and job creation across the country.
The funding was announced during MTN Business’ World MSME Day Business Pitch Competition, an initiative under the company’s year-long SME Accelerate Programme, which supports entrepreneurs with financing, digital tools, mentorship and business education.
The competition brought together ten Ghanaian startups and growing businesses that pitched their ideas before a panel of judges, showcasing innovative products and services across food processing, recycling, beauty and consumer goods.
At the end of the competition, Tahir Field Recycling, Edible Treats, Dyluri Beauty, Manehlla Foods and Tropical Snacks emerged as the top winners.
Each business received GHS30,000, bringing the total grant funding to GHS150,000, alongside MTN Business solutions and digital support packages designed to help scale their operations.
Although Tahir Field Recycling and Edible Treats recorded the highest overall scores, MTN awarded all five winning businesses equal funding, reflecting a strategy aimed at supporting a wider group of entrepreneurs rather than concentrating resources on a single winner.
Investing beyond cash
Beyond the grants, the selected businesses will participate in MTN’s 13-week Mini MBA Programme, delivered in partnership with Nova Business School, where entrepreneurs will receive practical training in business management, strategy, finance and leadership.
The programme is intended to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Ghanaian SMEs by equipping founders with the skills required to build sustainable businesses capable of expanding beyond local markets.
The remaining finalists—10-10 Foodie, Awhenepa Cookery, House of Lush, Bubune Africa Limited and Lebenam Skin—also received GHS2,000 each, together with business connectivity solutions including MTN’s Y’ello Biz Router, MiFi devices, Business Eye solutions and other digital products aimed at supporting their digital transformation.
SMEs remain Ghana’s economic engine
Speaking during the event, Mohamed Abubakar Siddiq, Senior Manager for SME Sales, Partnership and Business Broadband at MTN Ghana, said the initiative reflects the company’s broader commitment to supporting one of the country’s most important economic sectors.
“SMEs play a pivotal role in creating jobs and driving economic growth in Ghana. Through initiatives such as the Business Pitch and the SME Accelerate Programme, we are committed to empowering entrepreneurs with funding, digital tools and business education to help them thrive,” he said.
Small and medium-sized enterprises account for the overwhelming majority of businesses in Ghana and remain one of the country’s largest employers, contributing significantly to private-sector activity, innovation and local economic development.
However, many SMEs continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, inadequate business management support and slow adoption of digital technologies.
Increasingly, corporate organisations are stepping in to bridge
