They have also been urged to be passionate and be inspired in their businesses.

Mr Elvis Sackey, the Project Manager of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre, who made the call, admitted that, though there were competitors in the SME sector, it was necessary for entrepreneurs to calve a niche for themselves.

He said: “You must think outside the box and do things differently from your competitors and this requires that you observe your business environment, be inquisitive, ask questions, read books, meet different people, challenge yourself and should not fear to take a risk.

“Your being passionate and having passion for what you do will make you think and do things differently with or without competition,” Mr Sackey stated on Wednesday in Accra.  He also advised entrepreneurs to develop positive self-image, basic negotiation skills, spirit of perseverance and self-discipline, and have the interest of their customers at heart in order to propel them to higher heights in the field of entrepreneurship.

The Summit which aimed at preparing entrepreneurs and their businesses for next year was on the theme: “Emerging SME-Secrets to Grow from Micro to Small Enterprises. Mr Joshua Mensah, a Business Coach and Consultant, advised participants to have a clear career path and expressed optimism that, with key principles like determination, not despising small beginnings, perseverance, self-discipline, creativity and innovation, they would accomplish great things in life and in their businesses.

Mr Mensah also urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained after the summit in their businesses to move it forward.  Mr Seth O. Asamoah, a Business Management Consultant, implored entrepreneurs to distinguish themselves according to their handiwork, concentrate and be innovative in their mode of works.

The day’s summit was organised by the Foundation for Financial Inclusion (FFI) was the last among the series of programme held by FFI this year.  There was the launch of FFI business network and FFI business club.

The FFI business network would be a setup for business owners in the informal sector, where people would be enrolled in an academy and be trained in their businesses whiles the FFI business club would be available in the various vocational institutions to empower students through seminars and other engagements. 

Participants were trained in strategic planning, access to financing, business branding and customer classification.