Africa-Press – Ghana. 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.
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.
It also forms part of 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, said the programme was designed to unlock the entrepreneurial talent of PwDs, describing them as “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, stressing that “our focus is to help PwDs position their businesses to access funding opportunities and prepare them for scale.”
Mr David observed that although donor agencies and private sector initiatives existed, PwDs were often excluded due to accessibility challenges, particularly in obtaining information about funding opportunities. “If a visually impaired person cannot read the newspaper, how do they get to know of grants are available” he asked, adding that the programme ensured inclusivity by engaging sign language and local dialect interpreters to aid communication.
He revealed that feedback from participants had been encouraging and hinted at future plans to create a “market access platform” where PwDs could showcase and sell products such as leatherworks and processed foods.
Ms Adwoa Ackonor, Manager in charge of Enterprise Business at MTN Ghana, said the initiative aligned with MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which focused on enabling communities, driving digital inclusion, and empowering SMEs.
“By providing entrepreneurial and digital skills training, we are helping PwDs unlock opportunities to grow their businesses, improve their livelihoods, and participate fully in the economy. Everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life,” she said.
Ms Ackonor noted that beyond the training, MTN Ghana was exploring opportunities for continuous mentorship, business networking, and financial support to ensure participants could sustain and expand their enterprises.
She encouraged PwDs to take advantage of MTN’s wide range of services, including mobile money and enterprise solutions, which she said were designed to support SMEs to operate efficiently, reach customers, and access new markets.
Madam Yahaya Aisha, a participant, commended 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.
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