The competition, organised as part of the SME Accelerate Programme, brought together ten promising Ghanaian businesses to pitch their ideas and demonstrate their potential to drive innovation, create jobs and contribute to the country's economic development.

The finalists were 10-10 Foodie, Awhenepa Cookery, Edible Treats, House of Lush, Manehlla Foods, Tahir Field Recycling, Tropical Snacks, Bubune Africa Limited, Dyluri Beauty and Lebenam Skin.

Following a highly competitive pitching session, Tahir Field Recycling, Edible Treats, Dyluri Beauty, Manehlla Foods and Tropical Snacks emerged as the top winners. Each business received a cash prize of GHS30,000, bringing the total amount awarded to the five winners to GHS150,000.

In addition to the cash prizes, the winners received Business Eye and MiFi to enhance their operational efficiency and business growth. The top three finalists will also participate in the MTN Business Mini MBA Programme in partnership with Nova Business School, an initiative designed to equip entrepreneurs with practical business management skills and strengthen their capacity to compete in an increasingly dynamic business environment. The remaining finalists will benefit from entrepreneurship and skills development training provided by E4 Impact.

Although Tahir Field Recycling and Edible Treats achieved the highest scores in the competition, MTN Business awarded equal prize amounts to all five winning businesses, demonstrating its commitment to creating opportunities for a wider range of SMEs to scale and succeed.

The remaining finalists, 10-10 Foodie, Awhenepa Cookery, House of Lush, Bubune Africa Limited and Lebenam Skin, each received GHS2,000 in prize money, along with MTN products and business solutions, including Y'ello Biz Routers, Business Eye solutions and other digital tools to support their digital transformation journeys.

Speaking at the event, the Senior Manager for SME Sales, Partnerships and Business Broadband at MTN Ghana, Mohamed Abubakar Siddiq, said the Business Pitch Competition forms part of MTN's commitment to supporting the growth and sustainability of SMEs, which play a critical role in Ghana's economy.

He said "SMEs are the backbone of Ghana's economy, contributing significantly to job creation, innovation and economic growth. At MTN, we understand both the opportunities and challenges that come with building and growing a business. Through initiatives such as the Business Pitch Competition and the SME Accelerate Programme, we are providing entrepreneurs with the funding, digital solutions and business knowledge they need to grow resilient and sustainable enterprises. Our goal is to help SMEs unlock their potential, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to national development”.

Founder and CEO of Tahir Field Recycling, Tahir Pumar, expressed gratitude to MTN Business and its partners for the opportunity, describing the recognition as a major boost for the company's growth ambitions. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. The prize money will enable us to increase production capacity, expand our operations and create additional employment opportunities for young people. We are grateful to MTN Business for investing in the growth of Ghanaian businesses," he said.

The MSME Day Business Pitch Competition forms part of MTN Ghana's efforts to champion entrepreneurship and create opportunities for SMEs through funding, digital solutions, mentorship and capacity-building initiatives. By supporting businesses to innovate, grow and scale, MTN continues to play a key role in advancing inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in Ghana.

Now in its third year, the SME Accelerate Programme is a year-long initiative designed to support the growth and sustainability of SMEs across Ghana. The programme features SME clinics, business webinars, exhibitions and curated networking opportunities aimed at equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools and connections needed to succeed. So far, three SME clinics have been held across three regions, impacting more than 700 SMEs. Three additional clinics are scheduled to take place in Accra, Takoradi and Tamale. The programme also includes a Mini MBA training programme for SMEs in partnership with Nova Business School.

Finalists and judges in a group photograph after the prize presentation

Mohamed Abubakar Siddiq Senior Manager for SME Sales, Partnerships and Business Broadband at MTN Ghana presenting a prize to one of the finalist.

Partners and guests at the pitch competition

The top five finalists with the judges following the prize presentation