LocationsDigital Champions Driving MSME Digital Growth Across Ghana
July 10, 2026
Ruth Wewura Guribie owner of sava shea company limited in her workspace
In Ghana, 92% of all registered businesses are classified as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which significantly contribute to the country's economy and employment. Many of them have great products, skills, and ambition, but often struggle with visibility, access to markets, and the ability to connect to reliable business support. The MSME Digital Gateway was launched to help address these gaps by making business information, services, and opportunities easier to access in one intergated platform. As part of efforts to support this shift, Business Advisory Centre officers from across the Ghana are participating in a series of sub-zonal Digital Champions Training and MSME onboarding missions under the Leveraging Digital Ecosystems for Increased MSME Productivity Joint Programme. Through these regional missions, Digital Champions are being equipped to support entrepreneurs within their respective districts while helping drive the nationwide rollout of the MSME Digital Gateway.
The Joint Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), with funding support from the European Union through the Joint SDG Fund. Together, the partners are working to strengthen Ghana's digital enterprise ecosystem by improving MSMEs' access to business support, markets, finance and digital opportunities.
The Digital Gateway Champions training forms part of the MSME Digital Gateway initiative, which is being implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), with the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) serving as the technical partner. The initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of Business Advisory Centre officers to support MSMEs in accessing digital tools, business information, financing opportunities, and markets through the Gateway, while advancing nationwide rollout, entrepreneur onboarding and the continuous improvement of the platform.
Speaking during one of the Digital Champions training, Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Head of Transformative Governance at UNDP Ghana, emphasized the importance of people in driving digital transformation:
“As frontline advisors within the Business Advisory Centres, digital transformation succeeds when people are empowered to drive it. That is why Digital Champions are central to helping MSMEs access and benefit from digital tools and platforms”
Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Head of Transformative Governance at UNDP Ghana
Beyond discussions on digital transformation and MSME growth, participants gained hands-on experience using the MSME Digital Gateway. They learned how entrepreneurs can search for information, products and services, navigate listings, complete purchases, track orders, and engage with the platform’s community forum. The training also introduced participants to vendor account setup, product and service listing, order management, and the administrative tools that enable Business Advisory Centre officers to monitor businesses and their activities within their districts. These practical sessions were designed to prepare Digital Champions to confidently support MSMEs in accessing and using the platform.
Beyond the practical sessions, Digital Champions are also helping shape the next phase of the Gateway. Drawing on their experience supporting entrepreneurs within their districts, participants are contributing practical recommendations on platform functionality, user support, additional content, outreach strategies and long-term sustainability. Their insights will help strengthen the Gateway and ensure it continues to respond to the evolving needs of MSMEs across Ghana.
At the heart of the programme is the MSME Digital Gateway, which aims to make businesses easier to find, easier to trust, and easier to grow by connecting them to services, markets, and support systems in one digital space.
On behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Margaret Ansei, Habiba Sumani, Director of MSME Development, highlighted the importance of closing information gaps for entrepreneurs:
“Too often, MSMEs have the support they need within reach, but struggle to know where to find it. The MSME Digital Gateway is about closing that gap and making access to business support simpler, faster, and more reliable for entrepreneurs across Ghana.”
Habiba Sumani, Director of MSME Development
For participants like Kobina Oduro Hagan, Business Advisory Centre Head for Ashanti Akyem Agogo, the training reinforced the Gateway's potential to unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs.
"The MSME Digital Gateway is a one-stop shop for business needs. It goes beyond simply profiling businesses by giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their products, reach customers and sell online. For many MSMEs, access to markets has always been the missing piece, and this platform helps close that gap."
Kobina Oduro Hagan, Business Advisory Centre Head for Ashanti Akyem Agogo
For participants like Nana Yaa Konadu Amponsah, BAC Head for Sekondi-Takoradi, the training also reinforced a practical commitment to MSME development:
“I intend to use this training to better support MSMEs in my district by helping them effectively market their brands, services, and products. I am also committed to ensuring they are properly onboarded onto the system and continuously supported in ways that strengthen their sustainability and long-term growth, including regular follow-up and monitoring.”
Nana Yaa Konadu Amponsah, BAC Head for Sekondi-Takoradi
Following its official launch on 29 June 2026, the MSME Digital Gateway has entered its nationwide rollout phase.
As the nationwide rollout progresses, the trained Digital Champions, serving as lead advisors within Business Advisory Centres, will lead MSME onboarding in their respective districts, be instrumental in enabling MSMEs to leverage digital tools, engage with the Gateway, and access business growth opportunities. helping entrepreneurs register on the Gateway, navigate its features and access business support services. As trusted frontline advisors, they will also serve as the first point of contact for ongoing guidance while strengthening the adoption of digital tools among MSMEs.
Through Digital Champions Training, entrepreneur onboarding and continuous user feedback, the initiative is bringing the Gateway closer to businesses across Ghana while laying the foundation for a more connected, inclusive and digitally enabled MSME ecosystem.
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