The Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) in collaboration with MTN Business recently held a capacity building clinic for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sunyani, the capital of Ghana's Bono Region. About 200 SME owners, entrepreneurs, start-ups, business managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs participated in the training. The clinic aimed to equip SMEs with the necessary skills to strengthen their businesses and take advantage of opportunities created by digitalisation.
The training covered topics such as soft skills, digitalisation, team building, and strategies for improving business performance and sustainability. Frederick Pokoo-Aikins, a leadership, management, and soft skills development consultant, was the main facilitator. He emphasised the need for businesses to strengthen their human skills to remain relevant and competitive in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). According to Mr. Pokoo-Aikins, skills such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and relationship management are essential to business success.
Mr. Pokoo-Aikins noted that although AI can process information and perform sophisticated analytical tasks, human judgement and the ability to understand issues and manage people remain critical to business success. He urged SME owners to look beyond access to finance, markets, and technical skills and pay greater attention to the soft skills required to build effective teams and manage relationships. The consultant also stressed the importance of understanding one's own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of employees, to build productive teams.
The Senior Zonal Business Manager for Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, and Northern of the GCGL, Benjamin Korsinah Tsatsu, said the programme aimed to help SMEs strengthen their businesses and take advantage of opportunities created by digitalisation. He noted that about 90 per cent of Ghana's labour force is within the SME space, making it essential to bring capacity-building opportunities closer to entrepreneurs across the country.
The initiative seeks to equip participants with soft skills and digital tools to improve their businesses and enable them to attach digitalisation to their products and service delivery. This, according to Mr. Tsatsu, will help SMEs in their growth process and improve their performance. The programme is expected to be decentralised across all 16 regions of Ghana to ensure that businesses outside Accra and Kumasi also benefit from direct business coaching.
Eric Antwi, the Regional Sales Manager for MTN Business, Northern Business Unit, highlighted the importance of digital tools in helping SMEs overcome challenges in their daily operations. He mentioned that MTN Business has introduced Ejumapa to support women entrepreneurs and Yellowbees, which provides SMEs with tools to establish an online presence, website creation, and a dedicated customer service platform.
The training clinic was well-received by participants, who expressed appreciation for the importance of understanding people, particularly younger employees, and building stronger teams. MTN Business identified five businesses among the participants for further engagement in areas, including financial literacy training and continued coaching. The collaboration between GCGL and MTN Business aims to support SMEs in Ghana and help them compete in the global marketplace.
Key points
- The programme seeks to equip SMEs with soft skills and digital tools to improve their businesses.
- The training covered topics such as soft skills, digitalisation, team building, and strategies for improving business performance and sustainability.
- The initiative is expected to be decentralised across all 16 regions of Ghana.
