MTN Ghana has launched the MTN National Business Pitch competition, an initiative aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all 16 regions of Ghana with funding, mentorship and digital business solutions.
Angela Mensah-Poku, the Chief Enterprise Officer of MTN Ghana, speaking at the media launch in Accra, said the initiative was part of the company’s 30th anniversary celebration and a way of giving back to businesses that had contributed to its growth over the years.
As we celebrate 30 years, we asked ourselves, what could we give back to the businesses that have carried us for so many years? We found the answer through feedback from our customers, which is the pitch and funding,” she said.
She explained that the competition was designed to address some of the major challenges facing small businesses, particularly limited access to funding, business advice and the support needed to expand their operations.
It's more than money. Money is involved, but it's more,” she said, adding that MTN wanted to become a long-term partner to businesses by providing connectivity, digital services and access to a wider business support network.
According to her, many SMEs struggle to secure loans because of requirements such as collateral, financial records and established business relationships, making it difficult for them to access the resources needed to grow.
The competition, she said, would offer participating businesses an opportunity to showcase their ideas, secure funding and benefit from support that could help them become more competitive.
Thirty years of progress later, today we're putting our support behind the businesses that will power the next 30 years,” she emphasized.
GH¢300,000 national prize
Mohammed Sadick Abubakar, Senior Manager for SME Sales and Partnerships and Fibre Broadband at MTN, in an interview said the national competition followed positive feedback from an earlier business pitch programme conducted in three regions over the previous two years.
He said the expansion was intended to extend the opportunity to SMEs nationwide rather than restrict participation to selected regions.
Born out of the requests and the needs expressed by our customers, we have launched the National Business Pitch as a way of expanding our network in terms of SMEs across the country,” he said.
Under the programme, three businesses from each of Ghana’s 16 regions will be selected, producing 48 regional finalists.
Each of the 16 regional winners will receive GH¢30,000, while the overall national champion will receive GH¢300,000.
Sadick said MTN believed that providing the right support to SMEs could help them grow into larger businesses, create jobs and contribute to Ghana’s economic development.
MTN values SMEs so much. We believe that when we are able to give them the necessary support, they can grow to become very big companies, create an enabling job environment and contribute to the GDP of Ghana,” he said.
He added that MTN itself had grown from a smaller operation into a major telecommunications company and wanted to extend similar opportunities to businesses seeking to expand.
Eligibility and application requirements
The competition is open to eligible SMEs across all 16 regions, with businesses required to have valid registration documents and have been operational for at least one year.
Applicants must also demonstrate that their businesses operate in the region in which they are applying and provide evidence of their tax status. The organisers indicated that certain alternative local business documents, including recognised municipal or market-related certificates and receipts, could be accepted.
Applicants will be required to submit a written response of no more than 1,000 words and a short video pitch of no more than three minutes.
The organisers said applications would be assessed by independent judges, with the top three businesses in each region progressing to the next stage.
The 48 selected businesses will also benefit from business coaching, mentoring and other development opportunities. According to the programme presentation, additional support will include data bundles, a one-year Microsoft 365 subscription, a free website, fixed voice services and a business camera, alongside other digital solutions.
Following the regional selection process, the 16 regional winners will participate in further pitching and mentoring activities, from which five businesses will be selected to compete for the national prize.
MTN said the initiative was intended not only to provide financial assistance but also to equip businesses with the digital tools and expertise needed to improve operations and reach more customers.
The competition is scheduled to run throughout 2027, beginning early in the year and culminating in the national finale towards the end of the year. Applicants have been advised to monitor MTN's official website and social media platforms for the application portal and submission deadlines.
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