ICC and TikTok Unveil Free Digital Commerce Labs for Ghanaian SMEs
A joint initiative launches at the University of Ghana to equip small businesses with cross‑border e‑commerce skills, backed by government, banks and telecoms.
Launch event and programme design
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and TikTok formally opened the ICC‑TikTok Digital Commerce Labs on 10 November 2026 at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, Legon. The launch ceremony brought together government ministers, business leaders and development partners, signalling a coordinated effort to extend digital trade opportunities beyond Ghana’s major cities. Organisers described the labs as a free, multi‑modal training programme that blends in‑person community events, self‑paced online modules and live virtual classrooms. Each component is offered at no charge, and participants are encouraged to register for the full curriculum rather than selecting isolated topics. Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Mohammed Adams Sukparu underscored the government’s role in ensuring the initiative reaches every corner of the country, from urban hubs to remote villages. He warned that digital commerce must not be confined to cities, insisting that rural traders, farmers and artisans should also be able to tap new markets, raise incomes and grow their enterprises. Sukparu linked the partnership between the ICC, TikTok and Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) to the national agenda of building an inclusive digital economy in which “no community is left behind”. He pledged ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to create an environment where digital innovation supports business growth, job creation and sustainable livelihoods.
TikTok’s view on job creation and digital mindset
Tholoana Ncheke‑Mahlaela, TikTok’s Head of Government Relations and Public Policy for Southern Africa, framed the labs as a catalyst for entrepreneurship rather than a source of externally supplied jobs. “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, emphasizing a shift from a job‑seeker mentality to that of a job creator. Ncheke‑Mahlaela illustrated how a modest enterprise that employs two or three people can quickly expand, noting that “the two, three becomes 30, 40. The 40, 50 becomes 60, and so on and so forth”. She also highlighted the importance of consistency and reputation in digital sales. “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 explained. Ncheke‑Mahlaela reminded participants that the customer is no longer standing in a physical shop but is likely “in his bed flicking on his phone”, expecting a seamless purchase and reliable delivery. “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 added, noting that “there is a lot to learn”. She concluded that businesses must also adopt the right attitude for engaging with international markets.
ICC Ghana leadership and value‑chain impact
Acting Chair of ICC Ghana Mohammed Samara described the labs as a means to overcome the infrastructure challenges that often limit small enterprises. “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. Samara explained that the ambition extends beyond individual firms to the broader value chains in which many SMEs operate. “Some of the SMEs that we have here are people who sometimes source some of their produce from local markets. They then are able to supply to retailers. They are able to supply to restaurants. They are able to supply to homes as well. So there’s an entire value chain that we are hoping through this collaboration, we will be able to positively impact,” he added. The ICC Ghana Secretary‑General Emmanuel Doni‑Kwame reinforced the capacity‑building goal, stating that the initiative will enable Ghanaian businesses to use digital platforms to expand beyond the country’s borders. He noted that the programme will be implemented in collaboration with the Ghana Enterprises Agency to ensure outreach beyond Accra. Samara urged SMEs to enrol in the full suite of modules, warning that “each module builds on the next” and that participants should “sign up in their numbers and go through the modules, not just one or two”. This call for comprehensive engagement reflects the labs’ design to provide practical tools and exercises that can be applied immediately to participants’ operations.
Partnerships, funding and global rollout
The Digital Commerce Labs are financially underpinned by Universal Merchant Bank, identified as the official financial partner, and receive additional support from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications. The Ghana Enterprises Agency is also involved, helping to extend the programme’s reach to businesses outside the capital. These partnerships align with the ICC’s broader strategy of pairing TikTok’s digital commerce tools and global reach with the ICC’s expertise in international trade and its network of national committees and chambers of commerce in more than 170 countries. Ghana forms part of Wave 2 of the global rollout, alongside Argentina, Kenya, South Africa and Thailand. Activities for the Ghana cohort began in October 2026 and are scheduled to run throughout the year, mirroring launches in the other participating markets across Latin America, Africa and South‑East Asia. The labs combine TikTok’s e‑commerce infrastructure with the ICC’s trade‑discipline framework, aiming to unlock digital commerce opportunities for small businesses in selected markets. By leveraging this dual capability, the initiative seeks to provide Ghanaian SMEs with the regulatory know‑how, compliance tools and market‑access strategies needed to compete internationally.
Expected outcomes for Ghanaian SMEs and an inclusive digital economy
SMEs constitute a major source of employment in Ghana, and the labs are positioned as a conduit for transforming these enterprises into scalable exporters and sustainable job creators. The programme’s three delivery modes—community events, online modules and virtual classrooms—offer participants a blend of peer networking, self‑directed learning and real‑time expert interaction. Practical exercises embedded in each module are intended to be immediately applicable, helping businesses to build customer trust, maintain consistent service and adhere to regulatory standards. Organisers stress that success will depend on more than technology alone; they highlight customer trust, regulatory discipline and consistent service as the differentiators of thriving cross‑border traders. By equipping entrepreneurs with formal business skills, trade discipline and digital reach, the labs aim to foster an inclusive digital economy where “no community is left behind”. Government officials reiterated their commitment to creating an enabling environment for digital innovation, while partners such as UMB and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications pledged ongoing support. If SMEs adopt the full curriculum and apply the tools provided, the expectation is that they will expand beyond local markets, generate new employment opportunities, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods across both urban and rural Ghana.