The winning businesses were Tahir Field Recycling, Edible Treats, Dyluri Beauty, Manehlla Foods and Tropical Snacks, selected from 10 finalists who pitched innovative business ideas after hundreds of entrepreneurs submitted applications.

The remaining finalists; 10-10 Foodie, Awhenepa Cookery, House of Lush, Bubune Africa Limited and Lebenam Skin each received GH¢2,000 along with MTN Business digital support packages, including the Y'ello Biz Router, MiFi devices and other business solutions to support their digital transformation.

Speaking to BusinessGhana after the event, Senior Manager for SME Sales at MTN Ghana, Mohammed Abubakari Sidick, said that the competition formed part of the company's year-long SME Accelerate Programme which sought to equip small businesses with funding, digital tools and business development support.

He said that although hundreds of businesses applied, only 10 finalists were selected to pitch before a panel of judges.

"We recognise the significant role SMEs play in creating jobs and contributing to Ghana's economy. At MTN, we identify strongly with them because at one point MTN itself was also an SME," he noted.

Mr. Sidick said that beyond the cash prizes, the five winners would be enrolled onto MTN's 13-week Mini MBA programme, delivered in partnership with NOVA Business School, to strengthen their business management and leadership skills.

He said that MTN would continue monitoring the beneficiaries through its SME Accelerate programme while connecting them to additional business support, including digital solutions and financing opportunities through the company's Mobile Money platform.

The competition was the third edition organised this year under the SME Accelerate initiative, following similar events held during the MTN Women's Summit in Accra and the AshantiFest in Kumasi.

For Tahir Field Recycling, which recorded the highest score during the competition, the award marked recognition for years of innovation in converting waste engine oil into useful products.

Chief Executive Officer, Tahiru Umar said that the business idea was inspired by childhood experiences of watching used engine oil being discarded whenever his grandfather serviced his vehicle.

He said that the curiosity later became the focus of his university final-year research project before eventually developing into a commercial recycling business.

"This has shown us that putting in the work pays. We are grateful to MTN and its partners for believing in our business," he said.

Mr. Umar said that the GH¢30,000 prize would be invested in purchasing a vacuum pump and increasing the company's stock of waste oil to expand production.

He also added that the expansion would enable the business to create more employment opportunities, with plans to recruit at least two additional workers in the coming months and up to six more before the end of the year.

The company currently employs 30 people, comprising seven permanent and 23 non-permanent staff.

Mr. Umar appealed for similar opportunities to be extended to more young entrepreneurs, emphasizing that such initiatives could help many youth-led businesses scale up and create jobs.

Tahiru Umar, CEO of Tahiru Field Recylcing