Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ghana are set to benefit from free digital commerce training following the launch of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)-TikTok Digital Commerce Labs, an initiative aimed at equipping local businesses with the skills and tools to expand beyond domestic markets and participate in international trade.
The programme, launched on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) Auditorium of the University of Ghana, Legon, seeks to address some of the challenges confronting small businesses as they increasingly turn to digital platforms to reach customers, promote their products and grow their operations.
Held under the theme, “Unlocking Growth for Small Businesses,” the launch brought together government representatives, entrepreneurs, content creators, industry leaders, digital innovators and development partners to examine how technology can support entrepreneurship, employment creation and business expansion.
The initiative is particularly targeted at businesses that lack the technical knowledge, resources and market access required to compete in the increasingly digital global economy.
All components of the programme, including community events, online learning modules and virtual classrooms, will be provided free of charge. SMEs, including those operating in rural communities, are being encouraged to register and participate in the full training programme.
The organisers say the objective goes beyond teaching businesses how to use social media platforms. It is also intended to equip entrepreneurs with practical knowledge of digital trade, customer engagement, international market requirements and the regulatory standards needed to operate successfully across borders.
Government targets rural businesses
The Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, has pledged government support to ensure the programme reaches SMEs across the country, particularly those outside major urban centres.
Speaking in a sideline interview after the launch, he said digital commerce should not be concentrated in cities but should create opportunities for entrepreneurs in rural communities to access markets and grow their businesses.
He noted that traders, farmers, artisans and other small-scale operators could use digital platforms to reach customers beyond their immediate locations, improve their incomes and expand their operations.
According to him, the collaboration involving TikTok, the ICC and Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) aligns with government’s ambition to develop an inclusive digital economy in which businesses from different parts of the country can benefit from technological advancement.
Mr Sukparu said government would continue working with industry stakeholders to establish an enabling environment where digital innovation supports business development, job creation and sustainable livelihoods.
His comments highlight the importance of ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation extend beyond businesses with access to major commercial centres and established technology infrastructure.
TikTok pushes entrepreneurship and job creation
For TikTok, the initiative represents an opportunity to reposition digital platforms as tools for entrepreneurship and employment creation rather than merely channels for entertainment and social interaction.
The Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, Southern Africa, at TikTok, Tholoana Ncheke-Mahlaela, said the programme was designed to encourage a shift in mindset among young people and entrepreneurs, particularly the transition from seeking employment to creating businesses and jobs.
She argued that small businesses could become sources of employment when entrepreneurs acquire the skills and confidence to grow their operations.
“We’re talking about job creation. Sometimes it sounds as if we need somebody to come and create it for us. At such venues, we will create our own jobs, and not only our own jobs,” she said.
Ms Ncheke-Mahlaela explained that a small enterprise employing two or three people could gradually expand its workforce as the business grows.
“We can do a small business, employ two, three around us. The two, three becomes 30, 40. The 40, 50 becomes 60, and so on and so forth,” she added.
She described the Digital Commerce Labs as an opportunity to help entrepreneurs recognise the potential of their businesses and use digital tools to build sustainable enterprises capable of employing others.
Customer trust remains critical
Beyond access to digital platforms, Ms Ncheke-Mahlaela stressed that consistency, credibility and customer confidence would determine whether businesses succeed in online commerce.
She explained that online transactions require businesses to build trust because customers often make purchases without physically inspecting the products or interacting directly with sellers.
“What is core is to be consistent, to be able to reach out, create a reputation. If today I successfully sell to you, your good experience with me will go out to bring others to buy from me,” she said.
She noted that unlike traditional shopping, where customers can visit a physical store and examine products before purchasing, digital commerce requires sellers to convince customers that the products advertised will be delivered as promised.
“The customer that you are selling to is not in your shop. He’s not on the roadside pavement looking at your merchandise. He’s at his home. Maybe he’s in his bed flicking on his phone. You need to be able to convince him, and he has to have the trust that as soon as he presses purchase and he pays and sleeps, then the goods will be delivered as per the specification that you said on your list,” she said.
She added that entrepreneurs must understand the expectations of international customers and develop the right attitude and standards to compete in global markets.
ICC seeks to connect Ghanaian businesses to global trade
The Acting Chair of ICC Ghana, Mohammed Samara, said the initiative was designed to help small businesses overcome some of the barriers that prevent them from benefiting fully from digital commerce.
He explained that the ICC’s international network and targeted interventions through its Centre of Entrepreneurship would help selected Ghanaian enterprises strengthen their capacity to operate in the digital economy.
“Through our platform and the global nature of our platform, as well as very specific and targeted interventions by the Centre of Entrepreneurship of ICC, we then would be able to empower a specific cohort of enterprises in Ghana, and that actually would have a snowball effect,” he said.
Mr Samara said the benefits were expected to extend beyond individual businesses because SMEs often operate within interconnected supply chains involving farmers, local traders, retailers, restaurants and households.
He explained that helping one business improve its operations could create opportunities for several other enterprises that supply goods and services to it.
He said the collaboration was therefore intended to strengthen entire value chains rather than focus solely on the growth of individual businesses.
The ICC Ghana Secretary-General, Emmanuel Doni-Kwame, also highlighted the importance of preparing Ghanaian businesses to use digital platforms to access markets beyond the country.
He said the initiative would be implemented in collaboration with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), which would help identify and reach SMEs that could benefit from the programme, including those operating outside Accra.
Mr Doni-Kwame also pointed to the ICC’s One Click initiative, which is designed to help SMEs participate in international trade.
He noted that broader trade cooperation being discussed among BRICS economies could create additional opportunities for businesses to access equipment and technology required to establish and expand production.
He said the Digital Commerce Labs would provide entrepreneurs with practical digital skills and knowledge to improve their businesses and strengthen their participation in international commerce.
Three learning platforms
The Digital Commerce Labs will deliver training through three main components designed to accommodate businesses with different levels of digital experience and access.
The first, Community Events, will provide physical platforms where entrepreneurs can interact with industry experts, exchange experiences and learn from other business operators.
The second component, Online Modules, will offer self-paced courses through which participants can develop digital commerce skills at their convenience.
The third, Virtual Classrooms, will provide instructor-led sessions, allowing entrepreneurs to interact directly with specialists, ask questions and receive guidance on practical business challenges.
The programme will also include specific tools and practical exercises that participants can apply to their businesses.
Organisers are encouraging SMEs to complete the entire curriculum rather than participate in only selected sessions, explaining that the different modules are structured to build on one another.
Mr Samara said businesses interested in participating should enrol and commit to the full training programme to obtain the maximum benefit.
Global initiative with Ghana among selected markets
The Digital Commerce Labs is a joint initiative of TikTok and the ICC aimed at expanding digital commerce opportunities for small businesses in selected markets across Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia.
It combines TikTok’s digital platform and global reach with the ICC’s experience in international trade and its network of national committees and chambers of commerce in more than 170 countries.
Ghana forms part of the second wave of the global rollout, alongside Argentina, Kenya, South Africa and Thailand. Activities under the programme began in October 2026 and are expected to continue throughout the year.
Universal Merchant Bank is supporting the initiative as its Official Financial Partner, while the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications is also among the supporting institutions.
Opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s SME sector
The launch comes at a time when digital platforms are increasingly influencing how businesses advertise products, interact with customers and access new markets.
For Ghanaian SMEs, which play an important role in economic activity and employment, the ability to sell beyond traditional geographical boundaries could create opportunities for business expansion and increased revenue.
However, access to technology alone may not guarantee success. Businesses must also develop reliable delivery systems, maintain product quality, understand customer protection requirements and comply with regulations governing domestic and international trade.
The Digital Commerce Labs is expected to address some of these needs by combining digital skills training with practical guidance on international commerce and business development.
If effectively implemented, the programme could help small businesses move from relying largely on local customers to accessing wider markets, while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their workforce and strengthen local supply chains.
With enrolment now open and participation free of charge, the initiative places emphasis on equipping Ghanaian businesses not only to establish an online presence but also to build the credibility, operational capacity and trade knowledge required to compete in the global digital economy.
