GEA Boss Endorses MTN SME Accelerate Programme as a Boost for 24-Hour Economy Vision
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Ms. Margaret Ansei has commended MTN Ghana for launching the MTN SME Accelerate Programme describing it as a timely and strategic intervention to empower Ghana’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
The official launch of the programme took place on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, under the theme: Business Done Smarter, Faster and Better. The initiative seeks to equip MSMEs across Ghana with the digital tools, training, and support they need to enhance productivity, scale operations, and access global markets.
Ms. Ansei, delivering her keynote address, said the initiative aligns perfectly with Ghana’s push towards building a 24-hour economy, as envisioned by former President John Dramani Mahama.
President Mahama’s 24-hour economy is not just about extending business hours — it’s about reimagining productivity, creating jobs, and building businesses that run around the clock, she said.
According to the GEA boss, empowering MSMEs with digital tools and strategic partnerships like this one with MTN is critical to realising that vision.
She highlighted key GEA initiatives aimed at strengthening MSMEs in the digital space, including:
• The SME Innovation and Inclusion Programme – Digitalize for Jobs (D4J), in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
• The U-Spark Project, under the UNIDO KAIZEN Expansion Initiative, supported by the Government of Japan
“These interventions are about more than just access to finance, she noted. “They’re about building an ecosystem of innovation where MSMEs — from rural seamstresses to youth-led agro-processors — can thrive in the digital age.
Ms. Ansei lauded MTN Ghana for evolving beyond a telecommunications company into a technology enabler, providing tailored solutions to small businesses through the SME Accelerate Programme.
This is the kind of private sector partnership Ghana needs to move forward. MTN’s commitment to MSMEs is commendable, she said.
Following the launch, MTN Ghana posted on social media to reaffirm its vision:
Today marks the beginning of brighter things to come for small businesses. SME Accelerate is designed to position SMEs to work smarter, faster and better with lots of opportunities to move ahead in business. Get ready to accelerate!”
Ms. Ansei ended her speech with a powerful message to business owners:
When MSMEs rise, Ghana rises. And with a 24-hour economy in sight, the sky is not the limit — it is only the beginning.
The MTN SME Accelerate Programme is expected to benefit thousands of small businesses nationwide through training sessions, digital solutions, mentorship, and tools for expansion. With the active support of GEA and other stakeholders, the initiative is poised to strengthen Ghana’s entrepreneurial landscape and contribute meaningfully to national development.