In Ghana, the word ‘sports’ has long been synonymous with a stadium and boots and occasionally, a ring with boxing gloves. Anything outside that realm? Laughable! So when eSports is mentioned expect blank stares, chuckles or outright dismissal.
While many in the country still see gaming as child’s play or a waste of time something is shifting, a new digital battlefield is being created with screens and headsets. The gaming scene in Ghana is indeed evolving but the question now is whether or not it belongs and if the rest of the country is willing to catch up.
African game publisher, Carry1st is betting big on Ghana’s digital future and it starts with the gamers. They are tapping into young, intelligent players, throwing them into competitive arenas and giving them a shot at the global spot. It’s not just about winning games and building communities, it’s about unlocking careers and rewriting what sports can look like in Ghana.
While players are leveling up some older folks are still stuck on level one; confusion, skepticism and a lot of ‘so what exactly do you do again?. Most don’t don’t see the potential, not yet and the kids sometimes have no answers because no one is listening. The silence from government and relevant stakeholders is also very loud. Where attention goes, investment follows and so far with eSports in Ghana, investment has been on the low. While billions are being poured into the industry globally, Ghana’s digital athletes are grinding in obsurity without the support they deseve.
So why the neglect? Is it the misplaced belief that gaming is more a distraction than an opportunity or the usual institutional inertia?. It is easy to dismiss what is misunderstood and what doesn’t look like the status quo. But while Ghana sleeps on eSports there is a generation of gamers building and redefining what it means to be a gamer in the digital age.
If sports is a national priority then it’s time to ask why one its fastest growing branches is still being ignored. The future of sports isn’t just on the pitch it’s also on screens, in tournaments and on global platforms. Ghana has the talent, passion and numbers so this is a wake up call. The eSpirts scene is not coming it’s here and the needed vision, investment and infrastructure must be made available.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Etornam Kumashie
