Thursday, October 2, 2025
NewsCenta
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
    • Local
    • Education
    • Agriculture
    • World
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrities
    • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
NewsCenta
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
    • Local
    • Education
    • Agriculture
    • World
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrities
    • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
NewsCenta
No Result
View All Result

MTN Ghana urges policy to unlock eSports potential

Telecom giant calls for national strategy to develop eSports as a growth industry in Ghana

Christabel Oboshie Annan by Christabel Oboshie Annan
October 2, 2025
in Telecoms
0
MTN Ghana eSports
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MTN Ghana has pledged fresh investments to accelerate the growth of eSports in the country, promising to make gaming more affordable, accessible, and inclusive for millions of young Ghanaians.

The announcement was made at the MTN DigiFest 2025 Gaming Focused Group Session in Accra, which convened industry leaders, gamers, policymakers, and tech advocates to chart the future of the country’s fast-emerging digital sport.

You might also like

Sylvia Digital Chambers

Sylvia named CEO of Telecoms and Digital Chambers

October 1, 2025
Telecom Blewett

AI, coding to drive telecom growth – Blewett

October 1, 2025

The session spotlighted Ghana’s huge market potential but also underscored the urgent need for a national eSports policy.

MTN’s Next Play

MTN Ghana’s Manager for Video and Gaming, Yaw Antwi Boadu, revealed that the company is exploring the rollout of specialised gaming data bundles to cut costs and expand access.

“Our internet infrastructure is already powering the industry. The next step will be to create tailored packages that allow gamers to fully participate.”

“Even before the community calls us in, we see where eSports is going, and we want to be part of it.” He said, stressing that MTN’s support is proactive.

He added that the company views eSports as more than entertainment.

“Gaming is part of the digital economy, and investing in it means creating opportunities for Ghana’s youth,” he said.

The policy gap

Despite steady growth, stakeholders argued that eSports risks stalling without government recognition and regulation.

CEO of PopOut/Esports Academy and Vice President of the Esports Association of Ghana, Maximus Ametorgoh, called on the government to classify eSports as both an economic and sporting activity.

“eSports is not gambling. It’s skill-based competition—the digital form of football, basketball, or racing.”

“Other countries already have policies in place, but Ghana does not. We are engaging regulators like the NCA and National Sports Authority to close this gap,” he explained.

A global game

Ametorgoh pointed to global examples to emphasise the stakes.

Saudi Arabia has committed $60 billion to eSports, while the recent World Cup in Riyadh offered a record $70 million prize pool.

“Even finishing 20th in some tournaments can earn you $5,000. Ghana cannot afford to miss out,” he said, noting Ghana’s participation in African and Afro-Arab competitions and MTN’s sponsorship of Conquest, one of West Africa’s largest eSports events.

Big numbers, bigger potential

Data presented at the forum showed that out of Ghana’s 34.7 million people, 24 million are online, with 8.8 million actively gaming and more than one million console owners.

Gaming has now overtaken video-on-demand, music, and e-publishing as Ghana’s top digital media spend.

Globally, the video game industry is on track to hit $500 billion by 2030—more than the combined revenues of film and music.

“The sector is multidisciplinary,” Ametorgoh said. “It creates space for developers, coders, animators, sound designers, commentators, content creators, and even cosplayers.”

Barriers remain

Yet challenges persist. Kwesi Hayford, President of the Esports Association of Ghana, highlighted the high costs of gaming equipment, data, and software updates.

“Imagine buying a $100 game and still spending on 60GB updates. We need partners like MTN to negotiate with PlayStation and Xbox and explore off-peak data packages,” Hayford said, adding that professionalisation is equally key. “Gamers must form registered teams to attract sponsorships and international exposure.”

Women powering change

General Secretary of the Association and Team Manager of PlayProvince, Dabi Diamond, said the rise of women in eSports is reshaping the ecosystem.

“Beyond players and tournaments, there’s an entire industry of organisers, shoutcasters, and production teams. Many who began as gamers are now running the show,” she said, adding that this shift is diversifying the sector while opening opportunities for women in Ghana’s digital economy.

The way forward

The DigiFest 2025 session ended with consensus: Ghana has the players, infrastructure, and market to become a continental eSports hub.

But to get there, the country must establish a clear policy framework and forge stronger partnerships across government, private sector, and civil society.

“eSports is not just about gaming,” one participant summed up. “It’s about jobs, skills, innovation, and putting Ghana on the global stage.”

Post Views: 47
Tags: MTNMTN Ghana
Christabel Oboshie Annan

Christabel Oboshie Annan

Related Stories

Sylvia Digital Chambers

Sylvia named CEO of Telecoms and Digital Chambers

by NewsCenta
October 1, 2025
0

The Ghana Chambers of Telecommunications (GCT) and the Digital Chamber of Ghana (DCG) have announced the appointment of Mrs Sylvia...

Telecom Blewett

AI, coding to drive telecom growth – Blewett

by NewsCenta
October 1, 2025
0

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has underscored that the future of telecom will be driven...

MoMoFest cashless MobileMoney

MoMoFest 2025 sets new standard for Ghana’s cashless future

by Christabel Oboshie Annan
October 1, 2025
0

MobileMoney Limited’s MoMoFest 2025 has set a new benchmark for Ghana’s digital economy, fusing financial innovation with cultural engagement to...

MTN digital UDS

MTN cuts sod for GH¢9.7m digital hub for UDS

by NewsCenta
September 28, 2025
0

The MTN Ghana Foundation has cut sod for the construction of a GH¢9.7 million multipurpose students’ resource centre at the...

Recommended

DStv Mahama George

DStv impasse: Minority pressures Mahama to sack ‘deceitful’ Sam George

October 2, 2025
BoG virtual asset

BoG completes virtual asset draft bill

October 2, 2025
Legal Green mining

Legal Green Association proposes sustainable mining reforms

October 2, 2025

Popular Story

  • Songs Daddy Lumba

    See the list of over 200 songs Daddy Lumba released

    743 shares
    Share 297 Tweet 186
  • Gold-backed policies since 2021 driving economic gains — BoG

    714 shares
    Share 286 Tweet 179
  • 10 of top 11 causes of death killing more men in Ghana

    699 shares
    Share 280 Tweet 175
  • Bissue floors High Court and OSP at Supreme Court

    690 shares
    Share 276 Tweet 173
  • Monday, May 26, 2025 Newspaper Headlines

    684 shares
    Share 274 Tweet 171
NewsCenta

Newscenta is a Ghana-based news organisation publishing in print (The Newscenta Newspaper) and on a digital media platform (newscenta.com) dedicated to delivering timely and impactful news across various sectors, including politics, business, economy, technology, and culture.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Health
  • Education
  • Mining
  • Energy
  • Telecoms
  • Agriculture
  • Opinion
  • Trade
  • Newspaper Headlines

© 2025 All Rights Reserved NewsCenta.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Politics
    • Local
    • World
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrities
    • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • Newspaper Headlines
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Opinion

© 2025 All Rights Reserved NewsCenta.

Connect with us