Central: The MTN Ghana Foundation has inaugurated the 2024 phase of its Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Support programme in the Central Region. This initiative marks the beginning of grant distributions to 50 selected businesses, focusing on empowering micro and small enterprises led by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), women, and the youth. According to Ghana News Agency, the beneficiaries were part of a group of 65 individuals who engaged in a competitive pitch session that took place over two days in July. These selected businesses are set to receive up to GHS20,000 each, along with essential technical training aimed at fostering business growth. The sectors represented include rabbitry, piggery, farming, agro-processing, fish processing, shoemaking, crocheting, and sewing. In collaboration with Innohub, a business development organization, the program will provide targeted training in customer relations, financial management, branding, digital marketing, and packaging. Overall, the initiative plans to extend its support to 150 businesses across the Central, Volta, and Eastern regions, with a total grant amounting to two million Cedis, which doubles the fund allocated in its inaugural edition in 2023. Madam Adwoa Wiafe, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, stated that the support program is a part of the MTN Foundation's economic empowerment agenda, designed to stimulate growth within the SME sector. She highlighted the common challenges faced by SMEs, such as difficulty in accessing capital and adequate training, which often hinder their development and sustainability. "The aim is to enable these businesses to grow and harness the digital opportunities available to them," Madam Wiafe explained. She also expressed optimism that the program would contribute to reducing unemployment among the youth. Furthermore, Mr. Nelson Amoh, Executive Director of Innohub, emphasized the potential for growth and the importance of financial discipline among the entrepreneurs. He encour aged the beneficiaries to view the grants as critical seed money for sustainable business expansion. Beneficiaries, including Madam Millicent Bentum, a fishmonger, and Mr. Ekow Panyin Mensah, a young pig farmer, shared their struggles with accessing capital and their gratitude towards MTN for the support which they believe will significantly enhance their business operations.