MTN Ghana has rewarded ten small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its MTN Business Pitch competition, with five winning businesses each receiving GH¢30,000 and digital business support packages under the company’s 2026 SME Accelerate programme.
Speaking after the event, Senior Manager for SME Sales, Partnership and Business Broadband at MTN Ghana, Mohammed Abubakari-Sidick, said the Business Pitch forms part of the company’s broader strategy to recognise and support SMEs for their contribution to Ghana’s economic development.
He said the initiative celebrates businesses for creating jobs, contributing to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and driving entrepreneurship.
”These businesses are very strategic to MTN. At one point, MTN itself was also an SME, so we identify with them and hold them in very high esteem,” he said.
According to Mr Abubakari-Sidick, the competition attracted hundreds of applications from businesses across the country, from which ten finalists were shortlisted to pitch their business ideas.
Five winners each received GH¢30,000 in prize money, alongside MTN’s Yellow Biz Pack, which includes digital business solutions designed to support business transformation. The package comprises internet connectivity solutions and other digital tools to help improve productivity and competitiveness.
The remaining five finalists, although not selected among the top winners, were each awarded GH¢2,000 and also received the Yellow Biz Pack, including a Yellow Biz router and a MiFi device to enhance internet access and support their digital transformation.
Beyond the financial support, Mr Abubakari-Sidick announced that the five winning businesses would be enrolled on a 13-week Mini MBA programme delivered in partnership with Nova Business School.
He explained that the programme is intended to equip entrepreneurs with practical business management skills and prepare them to compete in international markets.
”We are going to slate them for our Mini MBA programme, which allows them to learn the fundamentals of business and how they can compete on the global stage,” he said.
He added that MTN would continue monitoring the progress of the beneficiaries through its direct sales teams and in collaboration with its partner, SMEDA. The company will assess how recipients utilise the funding and identify additional opportunities to support their growth.
Mr Abubakari-Sidick also noted that MTN’s Mobile Money (MoMo) team would provide beneficiaries with access to soft loans through the MoMo platform to strengthen their financial capacity and expand their operations.
He explained that the Business Pitch competition is held as part of MTN’s year-long SME Accelerate programme and has already been staged three times this year.
The maiden edition took place during the MTN Women’s Summit at Labadi Beach Hotel, followed by a second event during AshantiFest in Kumasi. The latest competition marks the third edition for 2026.
MTN Ghana says it will continue rolling out initiatives under the SME Accelerate programme to empower entrepreneurs, promote innovation and support the long-term growth of Ghana’s SME sector.
