For Ghana’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), business knowledge is often the missing link between survival and growth. The FIRST+II program, through the African Management Institute (AMI), is bridging that gap with a layered approach that meets businesses where they are and takes them where they need to go.

More than 511 entrepreneurs joined AMI’s Business Bootcamps, practical sessions designed to move beyond theory into hands-on solutions. Of these, 481 attended in-person workshops, 341 signed onto the digital platform, 254 downloaded business tools, and 195 enrolled in at least one course. For many, it was the first time they had access to structured business training that was both relevant and practical, and immediately applicable. The boot camps built confidence, strengthened networks, and equipped entrepreneurs with the tools to grow.

But the journey does not end there. Recognizing that some MSMEs are ready for deeper, tailored support, AMI also designed the High-Touch Growth Program. In collaboration with partner financial institutions, AMI is identifying high-potential businesses, particularly those led by youth and women, to receive intensive coaching, peer learning, and growth planning support. These enterprises are being prepared not just to manage day-to-day operations but to scale, attract investment, and create lasting jobs.

Together, the bootcamps and the high-touch pathway create a continuum of support from broad-based capacity building to targeted acceleration. Whether it’s an early-stage entrepreneur learning how to balance books or a promising MSME preparing for expansion, FIRST+II is helping businesses move from ideas to impact, and from survival to scale.