I don’t know what most of you may think, but I am not so certain that Ghana has a high stake or standing in the gaming world. Thats just my 2-cents, don’t bite me yet. And if I am wrong, I am open to be put to the stake…metaphorically.
Gaming, as an activity, is certainly not new to the country. I believe almost every country across the globe has, to a degree, enjoyed the freedom, fun and glory of videogames. But just like with actual sports, there exist rules, governing bodies and events that keep the above relevant for as long as the sport exists. Our typical example would be FIFA for football and the NBA for basketball. For as long as the sport is loved and relevant, these entities will never die out.
Ghana Gaming Entities
Now lets turn to videogames in our dear country. There appear to be 2 major entities that “govern” the world of gaming in Ghana:
These are the ESPORTS ASSOCIATION GHANA (EAG) and the GHANA ESPORTS FEDERATION (GeSF). With both entities basically vying for similar wiggle room to ‘do more’ for eSports in the country, thereby seemingly undertaking almost the same activities across the country as best they can, those being primarily seeking out partnerships and facilitating or organizing gaming tournaments. Here are their socials on IG at least. Do with that information what you will.
Eventually, the National Sports Authority (NSA), a government entity responsible for the development and promotion of all sports in the country, passed the ‘governing body’ torch to the GeSF, essentially putting them in the driver’s seat as the sole governing body when it comes to eSports in Ghana. There was an inauguration ceremony in April 2024 at the Madagastar eSports Arena, West Hills Mall, that had some esteemed figures in attendance. The GeSF has been in existence and operational since 2018 though. Keep that in mind.
Beyond Inauguration
Ghana Esports Federation is a national body that regulates gaming activities in the country. It also covers all the fundamentals of esports, including but not limited to players, organizations, associations, and events organizers as well as law and governance.”
Pretty good description of what they are to do. Where my gripe and confusions begin are what seems to be the silence of it all, outside of events and tournaments hosted. With each event noted and partnership made, all I would like to know is this: “What is the socio-economic impact of eSports in Ghana via the GeSF so far?” And I don’t think it is an unfair question to ask at this point looking at how gaming is soon to become a luxury than a hobby or sport in this country (a little more on that later). Is gaming ITSELF more accessible to the average capable gamer? And I am not referring to the tournaments hosted, but how easily can the average gamer own a console? How about certain data plans for avid or casual gamers? Is there even an open database of actual gamers or teams in the country?
Because as at now, there isn’t even listings for Teams, Organizations, Associations and others under their Recognized eSports Associations page on their website. I see some names and such on their IG postings but are these nationally recognized teams? Or just local champions with temporary controllers in their hands? What makes a team recognized? What criteria ‘officially recognize’ one as a “Gamer” in this country under their governance? I seem to see a lot more event hosting and tournament participation but not as much ‘impact’ in the gaming community itself. Perhaps I am wrong and I would love to be proven wrong just to learn.
My Hopes
With the birth of authority comes responsibility. As a governing body, GeSF is in a sense responsible for the gamers and gaming community at large in the country which form and birth eSports in the first place. I certainly wouldn’t say they owe all current and future gamers consoles or mobiles phones (“meh” to mobile gamers. Bite me😜), but what frameworks are being put in place? What scaffolds will eventually hold up the entire frame of gaming in the country, for which we can become a jumping pad for other African countries?
On a financial or affordability front, purchasing and sales, services, national event level, tournament genre diversification, gaming development and exchange, these are things I think a number would agree fall under ‘impact’ of a governing body. Look at the bloody tariffs coming! Gaming May Cry if nothing is done!
Framing
For me, off the top of my head, here is what I think should be taken into consideration to foster a more robust national gaming community and industry as a whole:
- Formulate a framework starting with “What is a Gamer?” in Ghana? What are the criteria? What does that mean here?
- Once the criteria is set, form a Database of Gamers in the country based on the set criteria. With technology available, I don’t think that should be hard to do.
- With a gamer database set, a Teams Database should follow.
- There should probably already be an official listing of vendors, service providers, gaming centers and eSports Arenas available already based on agreed criteria for these establishments so gamers can understand where to go to get what kind of service.
- With the formulation of the above, motivation should be studied and set in. What would be the perks of a gamer deciding to be a ‘member’ of the federation? Would those perks only be enjoyed via due payment or some other kind of membership? Benefits should be clear and concise. Be it discounts to watch game-related movies at the cinema, or from making certain purchases with select established vendors to gaining select perks from select arenas.
- Member Arenas, if they have to be made members, should also benefit beyond people coming to play games in their establishments. But they should also be regulated.
- Perhaps consider the inception of a form of an “Annual National Gamers Forum/Dialogue” in the country, face-to-face, Accra International Conference Center style to get feedback from the very people the enable all this to exist: gamers.
- Plan ACTUAL National Events (think JoyFM Bridal Fair or Habitat Fair, but for gamers) that will bring together existing and possible future gamers and federation members.
- Most of these, once well set, can even go on to be policy formulations that cement eSports in the country as a national activity if need be.
These are just off the top of my sleep-addled head, but you get the point. Sure, some of these are long-term milestones and can take considerable time to achieve, but some should clearly already exist by now.
There is certainly a lot of work to be done, but I believe there should be more involvement and openness from the people in the drivers seat of all this, that being the National Sports Authority and the Ghana eSports Federation. What steps are being taken? What achievements are being made? What actual impacts are loading?
What do you guys think? Lets continue to get this rolled ball rolling and see where it gets us all.
