The MTN Ghana Foundation under its Enterprise Support Program today unveiled 47 businesses from the Western Region who are beneficiaries of GHS10,000 worth of financial support. Out of the 140 businesses that applied from the Western Region,47 were selected.
The applications were screened, the entrepreneurs were invited to make a pitch to a panel and deserving businesses were selected.
Speaking at the ceremony the Senior Manager of MTN Foundation Robert Kuzoe said MTN is serious about growing SMEs in Ghana and, indeed, the whole of Africa due to the significant role they play in driving economic growth.
Through the MTN Foundation, MTN Ghana has sponsored programs targeting the underserved, empowering them to improve and expand their businesses.
He said despite their enormous contributions to the development of Ghana’s economy, SMEs are still faced with several challenges, key amongst them being the lack of credit facilities, lack of access to appropriate technology, and inadequate managerial knowledge and skills.
To help address some of these challenges, MTN Ghana Foundation launched the Enterprise Support Program. This project is in fulfilment of a commitment MTN Ghana made during its 25th-anniversary celebration and is also in line with MTN’s ambition to create shared value for all.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the financial support judiciously so that others could benefit.
Mr Kuzoe said the project is expected to support 500 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for the next five years across Ghana and targets youth, women and differently-abled led MSMEs.
He said this is a pilot case and it is based on the success of this that other beneficiaries will be selected.
Selected beneficiaries will be supported with training, business development support, technical assistance, and seed funding.
A beneficiary, Gloria Benedicta Otoo of Lifekick Farms who spoke to Skyy News expressed her appreciation to the MTN- Foundation and added that the financial support will be of enormous help to the growth of her business.
