MTN Ghana has held its SME Accelerate webinar under the theme “Breaking Barriers to Growth For Women in Business,” bringing together industry players to discuss ways of supporting women-led enterprises.
Ghana continues to rank among the top three countries globally for women entrepreneurs, with MTN Ghana positioning itself to drive growth in the sector. As part of this effort, the company has rolled out initiatives such as the Adwuma Pa bundle, which provides women with access to insurance, data, and on-call medical support.
Speaking during a panel discussion, Founder and CEO of Skin Pop Shop and Vicky’s Recipe, Victoria Lebene Osafo-Nkansah, described entrepreneurship as a problem-solving venture. She noted that innovation was not limited to any particular sector and encouraged women to focus on identifying gaps and creating value.
She also stressed the importance of strong brand positioning, especially on social media. According to her, visibility went beyond frequent online presence and required a clear and compelling brand story. She explained that when customers understood the story behind a business, they were more likely to connect with it and see its value.
Madam Osafo-Nkansah further highlighted the need for proper business structures, effective documentation, and continuous training in customer service. She cautioned business owners against complacency, urging them to keep improving their operations to remain competitive.
Head of Women Banking at Stanbic Bank Ghana, Marian Amartey, outlined key challenges facing women entrepreneurs, including time constraints, weak operational structures, and limited access to markets and networks.
She noted that many women-led businesses struggled to reach the right audience despite having viable ideas. To address this gap, she said Stanbic Bank had introduced programmes aimed at connecting women entrepreneurs to the right networks to help them scale their businesses.
Madam Amartey also advised business owners to maintain strong financial records, develop clear growth plans, and define their vision and revenue streams in order to improve their chances of accessing funding. Addressing misconceptions about bank loans, she said financial institutions had developed tailored solutions to support women entrepreneurs.
She encouraged women to build confidence in approaching banks, while also remaining open to feedback and committed to developing a growth mindset.
Also speaking at the event, CEO and Founder of Food Bank Catering Services, Christiana Dankwah, underscored the importance of social media as a cost-effective marketing tool for businesses.
She encouraged business owners to delegate responsibilities in order to manage time effectively, plan for growth, and maintain oversight of their operations. She also emphasized the need to train staff to understand business structures and processes so they could contribute meaningfully to the company’s success.
Madam Dankwah further advised women entrepreneurs not to delay starting their businesses due to limited capital. Instead, she urged them to invest in skilled personnel and remain resilient in order to withstand challenges and grow sustainably.