The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Nutrition and Sustainable Agrifood Collaborative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundations’ Nkabom Collaborative, has begun a five-day programme aimed at strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Ghana.

The training has drawn 25 entrepreneurs from across the country. The programme is designed to provide practical skills in business planning, strategic management and innovation, helping participants build enterprises that are sustainable and scalable.

Central to the sessions is the Nkabom Hybrid Business Model Canvas, a framework that introduces entrepreneurs to key elements of business development, including value propositions, partnerships, customer segments and competitive strengths.

“Many people start businesses without business plans, and inasmuch as this is common, it creates a lot of challenges in the long run,” said Prof. Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, Entrepreneurship Pillar Lead of the Nkabom Collaborative. He said the training aims to equip SMEs and start-ups with tools to design workable plans that can guide growth, create jobs and reduce unemployment.

Facilitator Dr. Isaac Tweneboah-Koduah said combining agribusiness knowledge with management skills was essential for long-term sustainability. “MSMEs may understand production or service delivery within the agrifood value chain but turning that knowledge into a sustainable business requires a clear understanding of business models and financial management,” he said. He added that the programme also covers brand positioning and marketing, which are critical for competitiveness.

Another facilitator, Gifty Afi Cudjoe, introduced participants to the SCAMPER creativity tool during design thinking sessions. The tool encourages entrepreneurs to refine ideas and explore new opportunities by prompting them to Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, put to another use, Eliminate and Reverse. “The approach helps participants break mental barriers, challenge assumptions, and open new pathways for innovation,” she said.

The programme is expected to leave participants better equipped to refine their ideas, strengthen their enterprises and position themselves competitively in Ghana’s growing agrifood sector. By combining creativity, technical expertise and strategic planning, the training aims to empower MSMEs to grow sustainably, recruit more workers and contribute to national development.