MTN Ghana, in partnership with The Academic Woman Foundation (TAW), has rolled out innovative Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) solutions tailored to empower women entrepreneurs at the 2025 She Builds Conference, held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The conference, themed “Women in Entrepreneurship, Law, Built Environment and Engineering: Where Are We Now, Where Are We Going, and What Do We Need to Do?”, convened influential women leaders, professionals, policymakers, and advocates from diverse fields to discuss pathways to women’s empowerment, leadership growth, and digital inclusion.
The Role of Women in Ghana’s Economy
During a panel discussion, Angela Mensah-Poku, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at MTN Ghana, underscored the importance of women’s contribution to Ghana’s economic growth. She revealed that nearly 80% of informal businesses are female-led, yet many remain unable to access the resources needed to scale and thrive.
“At some point, we need to recognise that a significant number of businesses in Ghana are female-led. In fact, about 80% of informal businesses are run by women. Yet, many of these entrepreneurs remain locked out of growth opportunities due to limited access to funding, digital tools, formal networks, and mentorship,” she said.
Ms. Mensah-Poku stressed that digital identity remains one of the greatest barriers to progress. She explained that many women still register their mobile numbers under their husbands’ names, a practice that limits their access to mobile money services, banking platforms, and wider digital opportunities.
“Digital identity begins with something as simple as having a personal phone number, accurate KYC details, and a Ghana Card. If women are excluded at this basic level, they’re cut off from broader economic opportunities,” she emphasized.
She further called for mentorship, digital skills training, and access to tailored digital tools that will enable women entrepreneurs to transform their ventures from “good to great to greatest.”
SME Solutions to Drive Growth
In line with this commitment, MTN Ghana unveiled the MTN Adwumapa Bundle, a comprehensive package designed to meet the communication and connectivity needs of SMEs. The bundle, accessible via *5060#, offers affordable voice, data, SMS, and lifestyle services, helping women entrepreneurs remain connected, strengthen their brand presence, and achieve sustainable growth.
MTN Ghana also highlighted other SME-focused products such as Y’ello Biz and Webwiz, which provide businesses with essential digital tools to expand their operations and compete effectively in the modern economy.
According to MTN, these solutions are part of a broader strategy to empower Ghanaian women through technology, mentorship, and inclusion.
Gender Minister Commends Progress
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, commended MTN Ghana and TAW for creating a platform that promotes women’s advancement and digital inclusion.
She lauded Ghana’s progress in increasing women’s participation across multiple sectors, including Parliament, the judiciary, agriculture, technology, corporate leadership, creative arts, and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Lartey also highlighted the historic achievement of Ghana’s first female Vice President, Professor Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, describing her success as a beacon of hope for young girls across the nation.
“Today, women are making their mark across every sector. Above all, we are proud to celebrate Ghana’s first female Vice President, whose achievement serves as a beacon of hope for young girls across the country,” she said.
A Step Toward Inclusive Growth
The She Builds Conference 2025 provided a platform not only to celebrate women’s achievements but also to confront the barriers that hold them back from realizing their full potential.
By introducing innovative SME packages such as the Adwumapa Bundle, MTN Ghana has signaled its strong commitment to helping women-led businesses scale and succeed in an increasingly digital economy.
The message was clear: through digital inclusion, mentorship, and access to innovative solutions, women entrepreneurs can build resilient businesses and move from “good to greatest.”
