Speaking during a panel session, Angela Mensah-Poku, Chief Enterprise Officer at MTN Ghana
Accra, September 15, 2025 – MTN Ghana, in partnership with The Academic Woman Foundation (TAW), has unveiled tailored SME solutions to empower women-led enterprises at the “She Builds” Conference held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The conference brought together women leaders, professionals, and advocates across multiple sectors to explore opportunities for empowerment, leadership development, and digital inclusion.
Speaking during a panel session, Angela Mensah-Poku, Chief Enterprise Officer at MTN Ghana, highlighted the crucial role women play in Ghana’s economy while pointing out persistent challenges that hinder growth.
“At some point, we need to recognise that a significant number of businesses are female-led. In fact, about 80% of informal businesses are led by women. Yet, many of these women remain locked out of growth opportunities due to barriers such as access to funding, digital tools, formal networks, and mentorship,” she said.
Ms. Mensah-Poku further identified digital identity as a critical barrier. “Digital identity starts with something as simple as having a phone number, KYC details, and a Ghana Card. If women are excluded at this basic level, they are cut off from larger opportunities,” she stressed. She also called for mentorship, training, and digital tools to help women entrepreneurs “move from good to great to greatest.”
As part of its contribution, MTN Ghana introduced practical SME solutions tailored to support women entrepreneurs. Among these was the MTN Adwumapa Bundle, available via *5060#, which provides affordable voice, data, SMS, and lifestyle services designed to help small and medium-sized businesses stay connected, build professional brands, and scale their operations. MTN also showcased other SME-focused products such as Y’ello Biz and Webwiz.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, applauded Ghana’s progress in advancing women’s empowerment while acknowledging existing gaps.
“Today, women are making their mark across every sphere of our society—in Parliament, the judiciary, corporate boardrooms, agriculture, technology, the creative arts, and entrepreneurship. Above all, we are deeply honoured to have Ghana’s first female Vice President, Professor Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang. Her achievement stands as a beacon of hope for young girls everywhere,” she said.
Themed “Women in Entrepreneurship, Law, Built Environment and Engineering: Where Are We Now, Where Are We Going, and What Do We Need to Do?”, the She Builds Conference convened leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to celebrate women’s contributions across critical sectors while charting pathways to strengthen representation, leadership, and empowerment.
MTN Team in a group picture
story by Henry Ameyaw
