MTN Ghana and Advans Ghana Launch Strategic Initiatives to Empower SMEs and Secure Digital Trade

MTN Ghana has awarded GHS150,000 in grants to five small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as part of its SME Accelerate Programme, signaling a renewed commitment to Ghana's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The initiative, which coincided with World MSME Day, saw ten finalists compete in a high-stakes business pitch competition. Each of the five winners—Tahir Field Recycling, Edible Treats, Dyluri Beauty, Manehlla Foods, and Tropical Snacks—received GHS30,000 to scale their operations. Beyond the financial injection, these entrepreneurs will be enrolled in MTN’s Mini-MBA Programme to receive specialized business training. Mohamed Abubakar Siddiq, MTN Ghana’s Senior Manager for SME Sales, emphasized that such support is critical for driving economic growth and job creation across the nation.

In a parallel effort to bolster local business capacity, Advans Ghana Savings and Loans recently hosted an SME Growth Clinic in Kumasi, attracting over 60 clients and prospects to the Golden Bean Hotel. The sessions, facilitated in partnership with Women Haven Africa, focused on the practicalities of business formalization and professional bookkeeping. Mrs. Barbara Odei, Chief Sales and Distribution Officer for Advans Ghana, highlighted the institution's role as a long-term financial partner, encouraging the adoption of digital tools like the MyAdvans Mobile App to streamline financial management. This clinic underscored a broader industry trend toward professionalizing the informal sector to facilitate better access to credit and sustainable growth.

Infrastructure and access to information are also being prioritized through a new strategic partnership between MTN Business and Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Under this collaboration, Ghanaian businesses subscribing to MTN’s Unlimited Fibre Broadband services will receive complimentary digital access to Graphic Business news and market analysis. The broadband packages, ranging from the Business Basic tier (100Mbps at GH₵299) to the Business Premium tier (500Mbps at GH₵999), are designed to combine high-speed connectivity with the credible business intelligence necessary for data-driven decision-making in a competitive market.

To ensure the long-term security of these expanding digital financial services, MobileMoney Fintech LTD (MMFL) has initiated a mandatory nationwide Know Your Customer (KYC) update for all Mobile Money Agents and Merchants. This regulatory exercise, which must be completed by October 31, 2026, aims to enhance the accuracy of customer records and prevent fraud within the MoMo ecosystem. Chief Commercial Operations Officer Abdul Razak Issaka Ali warned that failing to comply with the KYC update could lead to service restrictions, urging all stakeholders to utilize official portals for the update. Together, these financial grants, educational programs, and security measures represent a multi-faceted approach to stabilizing and growing Ghana's SME sector.