Tamale: Telecommunication giant MTN Ghana, in partnership with Fidelity Bank, has supported Innohub to equip Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with entrepreneurial, financial, and digital skills to enable them to build sustainable businesses.
According to Ghana News Agency, the two-day intensive training, held in Tamale, formed part of a five-year project that annually supports 100 entrepreneurs, 50 of them PwDs, with training, mentorship, and funding opportunities. This initiative is part of the efforts by MTN Ghana and Fidelity Bank to promote an inclusive business ecosystem and ensure that no group is left behind in accessing economic opportunities.
Mr. King David, Corporate Communications and Marketing Lead at Innohub, mentioned that the programme was designed to unlock the entrepreneurial talent of PwDs, who represent a large pool of untapped economic activity and innovation. He explained that participants received foundational training in customer service, business management, financial literacy, digital skills, and access to finance, with a focus on helping PwDs position their businesses to access funding opportunities and prepare them for scale.
Mr. David pointed out that despite the existence of donor agencies and private sector initiatives, PwDs often face exclusion due to accessibility challenges, particularly in obtaining information about funding opportunities. He emphasized the programme's inclusivity by highlighting the use of sign language and local dialect interpreters to aid communication.
Feedback from participants has been encouraging, and there are future plans to create a market access platform for PwDs to showcase and sell products like leatherworks and processed foods.
Ms. Adwoa Ackonor, Manager in charge of Enterprise Business at MTN Ghana, stated that the initiative aligns with MTN's Ambition 2025 strategy, focusing on enabling communities, driving digital inclusion, and empowering SMEs. She noted that by providing entrepreneurial and digital skills training, MTN Ghana is helping PwDs unlock opportunities to grow their businesses, improve their livelihoods, and participate fully in the economy.
Ms. Ackonor highlighted that MTN Ghana is exploring opportunities for continuous mentorship, business networking, and financial support to ensure participants can sustain and expand their enterprises. She encouraged PwDs to leverage MTN's wide range of services, including mobile money and enterprise solutions, to operate efficiently, reach customers, and access new markets.
Madam Yahaya Aisha, a participant, praised MTN Ghana and its partners for the initiative, saying it had shifted their perspectives on business opportunities, especially in leveraging digital platforms. The initiative, which also received support from GIZ, is expected to be scaled up to other parts of the country.
