For many small business owners in northern Ghana, Tuesday marked the beginning of a brighter chapter as MTN Ghana, through its SME Support Program, rewarded 160 entrepreneurs with financial and technical assistance worth GH¢2 million. The event, held at the Radach Lodge and Conference Centre in Tamale, brought together women, youth and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) whose resilience and determination have made them stand out in their communities.
The SME Support Program, implemented by Innohub in partnership with the MTN Ghana Foundation and Fidelity Bank Ghana, has over the years become a catalyst for inclusive economic empowerment. Now in its third year, the initiative focuses not only on injecting capital into promising businesses but also on equipping entrepreneurs with the skills and tools they need to sustain growth.
At the ceremony, Cynthia Mills, Economic Empowerment Advisor at the MTN Ghana Foundation, described the awards as a deliberate investment in the potential of ordinary people who are driving change in their communities. She explained that more than 350 businesses across Tamale and Bolgatanga had gone through assessments, training sessions and pitch competitions, after which 160 were carefully selected for support. According to her, the beneficiaries represent diverse fields such as shea butter and peanut butter processing, poultry, fish mongering, creative arts, fashion design and agribusiness.
Mills highlighted the inclusive approach of the program, noting that significant attention was given to youth-led enterprises, women-owned businesses and ventures run by the differently abled. She praised the awardees for their innovation, creativity and perseverance in the face of challenges, stressing that the GH¢2 million support was a recognition of their potential to create jobs, improve livelihoods and drive sustainable growth in northern Ghana.
Her words were echoed by Robert Kuzoe, Senior Manager at MTN Ghana, who emphasized that the support went beyond just the financial packages. He explained that MTN deliberately partnered with Innohub because of its capacity to provide technical training in areas such as bookkeeping, financial planning and effective resource management. These skills, he said, were crucial in helping entrepreneurs reinvest profits into their businesses and avoid common pitfalls that stifle growth. Kuzoe reiterated MTN’s commitment to inclusivity, stressing that women, young people and persons with disabilities were all central to the company’s vision of building an economy that leaves no one behind.
Adding her perspective, Mame Serwaa Amoakohene, Chief of Staff at Innohub, said the organisation’s motivation was to champion businesses that often go unnoticed. She explained that while large companies attract investors and attention, many small and growing businesses remain stuck in the middle—too small for traditional financing yet too big to be ignored. According to her, Innohub was created to bridge this gap, making these businesses not only viable but also attractive to future investors. She added that training in innovative strategies, financial discipline and succession planning was just as important as financial aid. Without these, she warned, many businesses would struggle despite receiving capital injections.
For the beneficiaries, the awards were deeply personal. Niamatu Alhassan, founder and CEO of Angbanlife, whose company produces healthy Sobolo drinks made from natural ingredients, said the support was a life-changing boost. She revealed plans to expand her production lines to include new varieties of Sobolo infused with ginger and lemongrass. Similarly, Mohammed Tahiru, CEO of Suglo Shoe Enterprise and a proud member of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, expressed his gratitude to MTN for recognising the potential of PWD entrepreneurs. He said the funding would help him improve the quality of his handmade shoes and prove to society that disability is not inability.
The ceremony was not only a celebration of entrepreneurial resilience but also a powerful symbol of inclusive growth. By deliberately targeting women, youth and persons with disabilities, MTN and its partners have demonstrated that Ghana’s economic future lies in empowering all segments of society.
As the beneficiaries left the Radach Lodge with renewed hope and determination, the sense was clear: dreams that once seemed distant are now within reach. The MTN SME Support Program has not only rewarded innovation and perseverance but has also lit a path for inclusive prosperity across northern Ghana.
