The 2026 MTN SME Ghana Awards (SMEGA) has been held in Accra to recognise outstanding Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across various sectors for their contribution to business development, job creation and Ghana’s economic growth.
The awards brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders and industry stakeholders to celebrate high-performing enterprises while highlighting the need for SMEs to embrace innovation, digital transformation and continuous learning to remain competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Enterprise Officer of MTN Ghana, Ms Angela Mensah-Poku, said adaptability had become a critical factor in determining the ability of businesses to survive and grow, particularly as technology continues to reshape industries and consumer behaviour.
She said the ability of businesses to respond quickly to changing market conditions was becoming more important than their size, stressing that entrepreneurs must be prepared to learn, unlearn and reinvent their operations.
According to her, entrepreneurship must ultimately produce tangible results, including sustainable businesses, employment opportunities and economic value.
Ms Mensah-Poku said this year’s awards were particularly significant as MTN Ghana marks its 30th anniversary, noting that SMEs had played an important role in the company’s journey and Ghana’s broader economic development.
She said small businesses had over the years contributed significantly to innovation, employment creation and community development across the country.
As part of efforts to strengthen the sector, she said MTN Ghana had rolled out several interventions aimed at improving the capacity and competitiveness of entrepreneurs.
She cited the SME Accelerate programme, which took business training clinics to six regions this year and equipped more than 1,000 entrepreneurs with skills in digital adoption, financial management and business resilience.
Ms Mensah-Poku said MTN Ghana had also introduced direct financial support under the programme, with nine entrepreneurs receiving seed funding after participating in business pitch sessions.
She explained that the support was intended to move beyond training by providing promising businesses with capital to implement and expand their ideas.
According to her, MTN Ghana’s partnership with SMEGA forms part of a broader commitment to provide entrepreneurs with capacity building, capital and connectivity needed to grow sustainable businesses.
She said the ultimate objective was to support the development of Ghanaian enterprises capable of competing not only locally but also across African and international markets.
The Senior Manager for SME Sales, Business Partnerships and Business Development at MTN Ghana, Mr Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed in remark noted that company had expanded its support for entrepreneurs through specialised capacity-building programmes.
He said the interventions included targeted business development sessions and a mini-MBA programme designed to strengthen the managerial and entrepreneurial capabilities of SME operators.
Mr Mohammed said such initiatives were intended to equip entrepreneurs with practical knowledge to manage their businesses more effectively and respond to emerging market opportunities.
He also highlighted the importance of the exposure businesses receive through the MTN SME Ghana Awards, saying recognition could help enterprises strengthen their brands, build credibility and reach new markets.
He said SMEGA remained an important platform for recognising businesses demonstrating strong performance across critical sectors of the economy.
Stressing that MTN Ghana’s continued support for SMEs is aimed at helping entrepreneurs adopt digital technologies, strengthen their operations and build resilient and sustainable businesses capable of contributing meaningfully to Ghana’s long-term economic growth.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Margaret Ansei underscored the critical role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana’s economy, noting that they account for about 90 per cent of businesses in the country.
She said the significant share of SMEs in the business landscape placed a responsibility on entrepreneurs to build sustainable enterprises that create jobs, generate economic value and contribute to national development.
She therefore encouraged SMEs to take advantage of available opportunities to expand their operations, strengthen their competitiveness and increase their contribution to the economy.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI), Noah Tumfo, also highlighted the importance of SME growth in tackling unemployment, particularly among young people.
He said expanding the SME sector would create more employment and economic opportunities for the youth while strengthening Ghana’s productive capacity.
Mr Tumfo said the ministry remained focused on creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment that would allow entrepreneurs to innovate, expand their businesses and create sustainable jobs.
He added that the government, through the Ghana Enterprises Agency, continued to support SMEs with capacity-building programmes and access to financing opportunities, including grants and soft loans.
While the GEA provides direct interventions to strengthen enterprises, he said the ministry would continue to provide the policy and regulatory framework required to create a conducive environment for businesses to operate, grow and contribute to Ghana’s economic development.
The awards recognised enterprises operating in areas including agribusiness and manufacturing, among other sectors, for their contribution to economic activity and enterprise development.
2026 SMEGA Award winners
The Micro Entrepreneurs Award categories went to Markeinstein Africa Limited for Environment, Waste Management, Cleaning and Facility Service; Dress Up College of Fashion Ghana Ltd for Education, Training and Skill Development; Asheba Company Limited for Wholesale Distribution and Trade; Binas Prime Enterprise for Retail and Consumer Products Trade; Demipearl Company Ltd for Food, Beverage and Agro-Processing; Queen GAF Enterprise for Agribusiness Value Addition Market; Dinmbone Farm Gates Company Ltd for Agribusiness Service and Input; and Ahodwo Farms Ltd for Agribusiness Production.
Queen GAF Enterprise also received the Woman Entrepreneur Award, Consumer Products, Cosmetics and Household Manufacturing Award, and the Overall Best SME of the Year Award.
Other winners were Extra Comfort Limited, Engineering, Construction and Industrial Product Manufacturing; Noble Signed Enterprise, Business Potential Discovery; Bubune Africa Limited, Product Innovation; Excelsa Forestry Renewables Ghana Ltd, Sustainable Enterprise and ESG Excellence; Dress Up College of Fashion Ghana Ltd Digitalisation and Technology Adoption; Citi FM Media Reportage; Yumzaa Women’s Association, Export Excellence; Camelot Ghana PLC, Long Service; and L’Ainé Services Limited, High Impact Personality.
The awards brought together SMEs, business support organisations, government representatives, sponsors and other stakeholders to recognise businesses across different sectors of the economy.
