200 Ghanaian Entrepreneurs Get Free Training In AI, Logistics And Digital Payments At Accra Workshop
More than 200 Ghanaian business owners are in Accra this week for a free two-day training on artificial intelligence, digital payments, logistics and access to finance, as development partners push to equip small businesses for the digital economy and AfCFTA markets.
The workshop, which opened on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at the Accra City Hotel, is being organized by the International Trade Centre’s SheTrades Initiative in partnership with UPS, Visa and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, GEPA_. Other partners at the event include Ecobank, SECO Switzerland and the Fearless Fund.
The program is split into two tracks. Day 1 targets established small businesses. Day 2 is focused on new and aspiring entrepreneurs. Participation is free.
“We Want To Dismantle The Barriers”: SheTrades
Speaking at the opening, Ms. Kritee Sharma, Partnerships Lead for ITC SheTrades, said the workshop brings together government, the private sector and development partners to give women entrepreneurs practical tools to grow.
“I’m here in Accra, Ghana, representing the International Trade Centre’s SheTrades Initiative, a global ecosystem program where we bring together all the actors who have a role to play in supporting women. We also provide women with the right skills and capacities to grow their businesses and access new markets,” she told journalists.
She listed the partners present: GEPA, which is also the SheTrades Ghana Hub, UPS, Visa, Ecobank, the Embassy of Switzerland, and the Fearless Fund.
“That just goes to show the power of partnerships,” she said.
According to Ms. Sharma, participants will receive a full package of support.
“We’re going to talk about access to finance and how Ecobank can share its financial offerings with women. We’ll also discuss digital marketing, leadership and communications. So we’re giving women a package on how they can succeed, starting from the basics of entrepreneurship to digital tools and transformation, AI, access to finance, and of course, access to markets.”
What The Two Days Will Cover
Organizers said the curriculum was designed to be practical and immediately applicable.
On Day 1, established businesses will learn how to use AI tools for customer research and marketing, track sales and cash flow using digital dashboards, and set up WhatsApp Business and social media stores to sell online. There will also be sessions on e-commerce, logistics for cross-border sales, and digital and cross-border payments.
Ecobank and other financial partners will close the day with a session on what makes a loan application succeed or fail.
On Day 2, aspiring entrepreneurs will test business ideas against customer demand and receive hands-on training with ChatGPT, Canva and Google Workspace for real business tasks. They will also build LinkedIn profiles and receive training in communication, negotiation and leadership.
Beyond the classes, the workshop puts entrepreneurs directly in the room with financial institutions, business support organizations, and trade partners.
“AI Is A Thought Leadership Partner, Not A Replacement”: UPS
A major focus of the training is demystifying AI for business owners without technical backgrounds.
La’Kerri Jackson, Global Director of Social Impact at UPS, told participants that AI should be seen as a support tool, not a replacement for human creativity.
“Think about AI and some of the challenges many of us face. You don’t have access. You don’t have knowledge. You don’t really know how to use it,” she said.
“So we’re working with the International Trade Centre to host workshops like this to ensure that small businesses understand AI. It’s not as hard as we think. There are practical tools available: WhatsApp, Instagram, and others for making flyers, marketing, and more — things you can do for free without investing a lot of money.”
She addressed fears that AI could make people lazy.
“Is AI a threat to business owners? No. We cannot become lazy and just let AI think for us. The approach people should take is to see AI as a thought leadership partner. You are the brand. You have the intellect. You have the intellectual property. AI takes what you put into it and generates a result.”
“Everyone must exercise discipline and continue to rely on their own intellect. AI cannot just create things on its own. You have to give it a prompt. You have to feed it your intellectual property.”
Ms. Jackson said UPS is in Accra to help build an ecosystem for entrepreneurs. She cited UPS partnerships globally, including with Opportunity International for interest-free, collateral-free micro loans, and with the Fearless Fund, to help businesses scale.
“We’re here today to co-host a two-day workshop for entrepreneurs. There are many challenges that entrepreneurs and small businesses face, from exporting to lack of access to capital — a challenge entrepreneurs face across the globe, not just in Ghana.”
Switzerland: “Women’s Economic Empowerment Needs Coordinated Action”
Magdalena Wuest, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, said Switzerland, through SECO, is supporting Ghana to build a resilient and inclusive economy.
“I’m very delighted to be here, and I’m so impressed by all these women leaders in this room,” she said.
“Through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland supports Ghana’s efforts to build a resilient and forward-looking economy. Our cooperation focuses on strengthening local governance, enabling the private sector to create jobs and income opportunities, and promoting environmentally sustainable economic development.”
She said Swiss investments in Ghana span cocoa, cashew, palm oil, chia, textiles and digital trade.
“Our partnership with ITC is closely aligned with our cooperation objectives. As ITC’s host country and a long-standing partner, Switzerland works with ITC to advance trade-led sustainable development. The SheTrades Initiative is an important part of this shared commitment, and we are proud to support it.”
She urged participants to use the two days to build capabilities and networks.
“This workshop puts that approach into practice. Over the next two days, you can strengthen the digital, financial and business capabilities needed to operate in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Women’s economic empowerment requires coordinated action across government, development partners, the private sector, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs themselves.”
Why It Matters For Ghana
According to the Ministry of Finance, small businesses make up more than 90% of enterprises in Ghana and generate close to 70% of GDP. Yet many remain offline, selling in person, accepting cash payments and keeping paper records, with limited access to loans or foreign markets.
ITC, UPS and Visa say the program aims to close that gap by giving entrepreneurs the tools, skills and partnerships to compete in the digital economy and within the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Ms. Sharma said the goal is not to turn participants into AI experts overnight, but to show them how to save time and expand.
“We don’t want them to become AI experts overnight, but we want them to understand how AI can help them save time, automate processes, and open new horizons for their businesses. AI can never replace human judgment. We are supposed to train AI to support us.”
She urged entrepreneurs to “own this workshop” and take advantage of the community of partners present.
“You have the government here to help with market access and research support. You have UPS, which ships products across borders. You have Visa, a fintech leader. You have ITC, a UN agency.”
At the end of the workshop, each entrepreneur is expected to “identify two immediate steps they can take. It could be using AI to automate their social media, improve market research, or refine their product description.”
Following the training, ITC SheTrades will select high-performing entrepreneurs for one-to-one coaching to tailor AI to their business operations.
“I really hope this is only the first step in the AI journey for women entrepreneurs. When we come back next year, I want them to show us what they have done as a result of this program,” Ms. Sharma added.
The workshop runs through Friday, August 7, 2026. Media were invited to the opening session and to interviews with trainers and participants across both days.
