MTN’s Senior Manager urges Ghanaian SMEs to adopt Digitalization in order to move their businesses to the next level

Ghanaian-owned Small and Medium-scaled Enterprises (SMEs) have been encouraged to adopt digitalization in order to take their businesses to the next level.

Senior Manager in-charge of SMEs (Sales, Partnership and Business Development) at MTN Ghana, Abubakar Sadiq Mohamed who gave the advice further implored SMEs not to only focus on access to credit, but should take advantage of digitalization opportunities, which is using tech to change how their business run in order not to become inactive.

“It is relevant for local businesses should to adopt digitalization because that is the surest way to grow their businesses. In Europe and the Americas’ SMEs are thriving because they have adopted the digital tools. If you don’t adopt this as part of your operations, it makes your business growth a bit sluggish and for you to grow faster, it’s about the adaptation of digital tools and other concerns such as packaging, branding and financial literacy,” he remarked.

Mr. Abubakar Sadiq said these in a press interview on the sideline of a two-day SMEs Business Clinic in Tamale, that was organized by MTN-Ghana, for SMEs in agribusiness, leather and crafts designing, smocks weaving and shea processing among others selected from across the five regions of the north.

The two-day hands-on training themed; ‘Building a strong business model through unique branding,” supported by ABSA Bank and SMEGA SME Ghana Awards, afforded the participants opportunities to learn new things to improve on their business. They include financial literacy, marketing and leveraging on networks to expand their businesses.

Although Ghana’s economy is largely driven by SMEs – which contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product alongside creating employment opportunities, yet, studies have shown that most SMEs collapse or fold up within the first five years of operation, due the founders or owners starting on a wrong foot.

It is against this background that the MTN SMEs clinic, is creating newer opportunities for the targeted women entrepreneurs, youth SMEs owners among others to reversing the narratives.

According to Mr. Abubakar Sadiq, digital transformation has been very challenging for most SMEs, aside the fact that others are also struggling with funding and minimal or no web presence.

“We at MTN haven identified SMEs as critical to our socio-economic development, we therefore are bringing them together by facilitating a capacity building for them to enable them scale-up and also go global,” the Senior Manager stated.

Mr Abbakar Sadiq explained that the SMEs Clinic formed part of the Company’s year-long SMEs Accelerate Initiative, whereby MTN recognizes SMEs as strategic and needing support in areas of access to digital tools, financial literacy and branding, adding; “all these opportunities are given for free, because MTN believes if these SMEs are able to grow, the country ill experience corresponding growth.”

Taking about impact, Abubakar Sadiq said since the year 2025, more than 1000 SMEs have benefited from the clinic and this year, the target is to reach out to 1500 SMEs and 90 out of the cohorts, mainly women and youth will gain additional exposure. The opportunities include recognizing and awarding SMEs that are doing well through the SMEGA awards, he added.

During the Two-days, the selected SMEs owners at the Tamale clinic were taken through a well-structured business model, where they were reminded that it wasn’t enough to have a business, but a necessity to document key elements as SMEs, before transitioning into multi-nationals in the foreseeable future.

The facilitators also reminded the SMEs that they are in completion with others within the same space, hence they have to know their strengths, mark their target audience and their needs as well as building their team, knowing their revenue streams and the cost structure.

Some beneficiaries, like Ms. Ayishetu Tijani, Team Lead at Kayla Cares, which produces eco-friendly reusable sanitary pads expressed gratitude to the organizers – MTN for the exposure, and particularly how it would aid her business growth.

“The topic of branding is very important and the sessions has help me to rethink and refocus and also created space for us as entrepreneurs to network,” she stated.

Story By: Nelson Adanuti Nyadror |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.