MTN Ghana has organized its maiden Sustainability Workshop for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), equipping entrepreneurs with practical tools and knowledge to integrate sustainable practices into their businesses.
Held in partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Global, the workshop brought together founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders to explore how sustainability can be incorporated into everyday business operations. At the workshop, the company also launched a Sustainability competition for SMEs to present ideas on how they are going to adopt Sustainability in their businesses.
Speaking at the workshop, MTN Ghana’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, said the initiative formed part of activities marking the company’s 30th anniversary and aligns with its Force for Good philosophy, which seeks to harness the power of technology, partnerships and responsible business practices to drive positive social, environmental and economic impact.
She explained that MTN’s sustainability efforts had moved beyond traditional corporate social investment to embedding responsible practices within its operations and broader contribution to national development.
“We believe that we cannot grow if our communities around us are not growing,” she said, noting that the company has consistently invested in health, education and economic empowerment through its programs.
She urged SMEs, which form a critical part of Ghana’s economic landscape, to view sustainability as an achievable business practice rather than an undertaking reserved for large corporations.
According to her, businesses could begin with simple measures such as reducing waste, managing plastics, improving energy efficiency and building digital skills among their employees.
“There are small things that we can all do, and collectively we will see the impact that that makes,” she said.
She pointed to MTN Ghana’s efforts to reduce energy consumption, including the installation of solar panels at the MTN House, as an example of how businesses can identify opportunities within their own operations to adopt cleaner and more efficient practices.
The Business Manager of ACCA, Gameli Datsomor, said the partnership was intended to make sustainability more accessible to SMEs, which are often left out of major sustainability conversations despite their significant contribution to economic activity and livelihoods.
He said ACCA had developed resources targeted at SMEs and was pleased to work with MTN Ghana to help businesses understand and apply sustainability principles in practical ways.
Delivering a presentation on sustainability, ESG Specialist Dr Thelma Frimpong Mensah encouraged entrepreneurs to be deliberate about their carbon footprint and align their business decisions with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
She described sustainability as living and conducting business today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. She also cautioned businesses against greenwashing and urged SMEs to ensure that sustainability claims are backed by genuine action.
The workshop further featured a presentation by KPMG’s Kofi Osei Asenso on “Creating the Sustainable World: The SME Way”, focusing on practical approaches SMEs can adopt to build more resilient and responsible businesses.
The event was attended by members of the Sustainability Working Group of MTN and Momo, including the Ag GM of Sustainability, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, and Charles Osei Owusu, Senior Manager for Fintech Business Development, MML Operations as well as other officials.
As sustainability becomes increasingly important to business success, MTN Ghana hopes this initiative will inspire more SMEs to embrace responsible business practices, unlock new growth opportunities and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s sustainable development journey.
