Telecel launches 2026 SME Month to drive business growth

Telecel Ghana has inaugurated its 2026 Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SME) Month, aiming to empower emerging businesses to expand, optimize operations, and achieve enduring growth. The month-long campaign, hosted by Telecel Business, centers on offering practical business assistance, digital solutions, and growth prospects to SMEs throughout Ghana.

The initiative emphasizes skills enhancement, technology adoption, market entry, and networking, with activities designed to transition businesses from mere survival to sustainable enterprises.

Nii Lartey, Acting Director of Enterprise Business at Telecel Ghana, highlighted the shift in focus this year towards aiding businesses to grow and maintain their success. He mentioned that while starting a business is one challenge, sustaining and scaling the enterprise remains a significant hurdle for many SMEs. Telecel Business has developed practical tools, knowledge, systems, connections, and opportunities to assist emerging businesses in advancing.

The Ghana Statistical Service reported that Ghana had over 2.6 million business establishments as of March 2026, with roughly 92 percent operating informally as micro businesses. This data underscores the necessity to foster businesses in transitioning from small and informal operations to sustainable and scalable enterprises. As part of the campaign, Telecel is collaborating with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) on a Train-to-Scale program, a complimentary regional training initiative encompassing business education, mentorship, content creation, and Telecel Cash Merchant training.

The program aims to empower selected SME proprietors with practical knowledge and tools to enhance and expand their businesses.

Habiba Sumani, Head of the MSME Development Directorate at the GEA, stressed the importance of digital inclusion in achieving inclusive economic growth. She noted that when entrepreneurs can access dependable connectivity and effectively utilize digital tools, they can more effectively engage customers, reduce transaction costs, access information, build professional networks, and participate meaningfully in both local and global markets. Sumani praised Telecel for acknowledging the role of SMEs in Ghana's development.

A distinctive aspect of this year's program is The CEOs Unscripted with Delay, featuring discussions with founders of thriving businesses on their experiences, including failures, setbacks, technology choices, and growth strategies. The SME Month will also spread beyond Accra via the Telecel Business Runway, extending the initiative to the Western Region, where it will unite established SMEs, startups, financial advisers, and investors.

Alfred Neizer, Head of SME at Telecel Ghana, highlighted that the campaign is powered by the Boss Plan, a product aimed at facilitating the digital transformation of SMEs. The plan provides high-volume, non-expiring data and voice bundles, alongside a customer outreach and SMS marketing tool.