MTN Ghana has held the third edition of its flagship Masterclass series, equipping entrepreneurs and business professionals with practical digital skills, industry insights, and strategies to compete and expand their businesses in an increasingly technology-driven global marketplace.
The latest session, held under the theme “Thriving in the Digital Economy: Unlocking Opportunities in a Digital-First World,” attracted more than 120 participants physically, with a wider audience joining virtually through MTN’s digital platforms.
The quarterly initiative brought together business leaders, technology entrepreneurs and industry experts to explore emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI), digital branding, market expansion and strategic partnerships.
Discussions also focused on how entrepreneurs can leverage technology to overcome geographical barriers, strengthen their digital presence, and develop the skills required to remain relevant as AI continues to reshape businesses and workplaces.
MTN Deepens Support for Business Growth
Speaking at the event General Manager for Consumer Marketing at MTN Ghana, Nana Asantewaa Amegashie, said the Masterclass forms part of the company’s commitment to providing value to customers beyond telecommunications and connectivity services.
She explained that while technology provides an important foundation for business growth, entrepreneurs also require practical knowledge, access to experienced professionals and the right skills to translate digital opportunities into sustainable businesses.
“The MTN Masterclass is one of the programmes that we have for our customers, basically to give them opportunities to learn hands-on how they can run their businesses and improve the way they do business in Ghana,” Amegashie said.
She noted that the programme connects entrepreneurs with professionals who have demonstrated expertise in their respective industries, while breakout sessions provide participants with opportunities for direct engagement and practical learning.
“Beyond the technology, we allow customers to come in here to learn from people who have proven expertise. We also have breakout sessions that enable them to interact with the experts we have brought together so they can learn from them,” she said.
According to Amegashie, the initiative is particularly targeted at entrepreneurs seeking practical tools to improve their operations and grow their businesses.
“A lot of entrepreneurs are here, so we want to give them the tools they need to help their businesses grow. People have chosen us and partnered with us, and we also want to give value back to them,” she stated.
The Masterclass was introduced last year and is organised quarterly, with each edition focusing on issues affecting entrepreneurs, businesses and professionals.
The General Manager for Consumer Marketing said the virtual component of the programme was also intended to expand access beyond participants who could attend physically, while the content remains available on MTN’s digital platforms.
MTN Celebrates 30 Years with Customers
The latest edition was also part of the celebrations for MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary, with Amegashie crediting the company’s growth and progress over the past three decades to the unwavering support of its customers.
She thanked individuals, entrepreneurs and communities that have supported the company and used its services and business solutions over the years.
“Thank you to all those who have chosen MTN as their network of choice. Thank you to entrepreneurs who have used our business solutions to run their businesses, and thank you to the communities that we have partnered with to make Ghana a better place,” Amegashie said. “We are who we are because of you.”
Entrepreneurs Urged to Look Beyond Geographical Boundaries
Delivering his perspective on digital market expansion, Chief Executive Officer of Adanse Travels and Founder of Africon AI, Gideon Asare, urged entrepreneurs to move beyond the traditional assumption that their potential customers are limited to their immediate geographical locations.
He said digital platforms have transformed the marketplace, making it possible for businesses of varying sizes to reach customers nationally and internationally without necessarily establishing a physical presence in those markets.
Drawing on his experience building Adanse Travels, Asare recalled how a $50 Facebook advertisement in 2015 attracted a customer in Accra who had never visited the company’s office.
After making enquiries and conducting background checks on the business, the prospective customer eventually made a deposit.
“That changed my mindset—that if you could sit in your office and get a customer in Accra, somebody who never knew you and had never been to your office, that is the digital economy,” he said.
Asare said businesses must therefore begin to treat digital technology as critical infrastructure for accessing markets rather than merely as a tool for advertising and communication.
“When we talk about the digital economy, we are talking about you not thinking of your business as being within the vicinity where you are, but looking for partnerships and platforms that elevate you internationally or globally,” he said.
He also encouraged entrepreneurs to take advantage of existing digital platforms, networks and strategic partnerships rather than committing significant resources to building every aspect of their operations independently.
“One key takeaway from the digital economy is: don’t waste too much time trying to build or fund everything yourself. Look for networks and platforms you can leverage,” Asare advised.
According to him, strategic partnerships can provide businesses with access to new markets, technology, credibility, resources and customers that may otherwise require considerable capital and time to develop.
Human Judgment Critical in AI Era
The Masterclass also examined the implications of the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence for businesses and professionals.
Founder of Author Digital Labs, Rachael Tachie-Menson, said the emergence of AI has made critical thinking and human judgment even more important as organisations increasingly rely on technology to generate information and support decision-making. “For me, I come back to something very basic and human, which is critical thinking,” she said.
Tachie-Menson identified judgment, problem framing, leadership, empathy, trust and reliability among the capabilities likely to remain valuable even as AI assumes a greater role in workplaces.
She explained that although AI could rapidly generate answers and possible solutions, professionals must still possess sufficient knowledge and judgment to determine whether the information produced is accurate, appropriate and relevant.
“Can you determine whether this is the right answer from AI or not? Is this good? Is this bad? Is this great? That is judgment,” she said.
She also urged professionals to deepen their expertise within their respective sectors to enable them to critically assess AI-generated information instead of accepting outputs without scrutiny.
“For me, value is moving towards knowing what questions matter, which answers are good, and then what to do with them,” Tachie-Menson stated.
Digital Visibility Must Be Backed by Trust
Speaking on digital branding and market positioning, CEO of Digitransact AI and Executive of BulkSMS Ghana, Isaac Kofi Maafo, identified expertise, visibility, trust, relationships and consistency as five key pillars businesses and professionals must develop to build sustainable digital credibility.
He argued that possessing specialised knowledge was no longer sufficient in a marketplace where potential customers, employers and business partners increasingly discover brands and professionals through digital channels.
“You are an expert in the field, but who knows you are an expert? You need to be visible,” Maafo said.
He encouraged entrepreneurs to demonstrate their expertise by consistently publishing useful and credible information relevant to their industries.
Maafo, however, cautioned that visibility must be supported by credibility, noting that inaccurate or misleading information could undermine public trust in a business or professional brand.
He also stressed the importance of building relationships through meaningful engagement with online audiences and maintaining consistency in digital communication.
“If within a month you make one post and then you go and sleep, that is not the consistency we are looking for,” he said.
The latest Masterclass underscored the growing importance of combining technology with human expertise, credible digital presence and strategic partnerships as businesses navigate an economy increasingly shaped by AI and digital platforms.
Through the quarterly initiative, MTN Ghana is seeking to provide entrepreneurs with both the technological infrastructure and practical knowledge required to identify opportunities, strengthen their businesses and compete effectively in the digital economy.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
