By Yussif Ibrahim
Kumasi, Oct. 26, GNA – MTN Ghana has launched a game developer contest aimed at promoting local gaming innovation and encouraging Ghanaian developers to create games that showcase the country’s culture, heritage and stories to a global audience.
The initiative, organised as part of MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary celebrations, seeks to nurture local talent, support the development of indigenous games and create opportunities for Ghanaian developers to benefit from the growing gaming industry.
The contest attracted more than 50 entries, with 10 finalists shortlisted in two categories: Industry Game Developers and University Student Game Developers.
The finalists are competing for attractive prizes, with the winner in each category receiving a MacBook Pro, the first runner-up taking home a Galaxy Tab and the second runner-up receiving an iPhone 17 Air.
In addition, the overall top three winners will receive mentorship and technical support to refine their games and prepare them for commercialisation.
Mr Yaw Antwi Boadu, Manager for Video and Gaming at MTN Ghana, said the contest was designed to encourage the development of locally produced games rather than relying largely on games created outside the country.
He noted that gaming had become increasingly popular among young people, creating an opportunity for Ghanaian developers to produce content that reflected local experiences and cultural identity.
“We want to create games from within so that people will enjoy our games and, through them, we will be able to tell our stories from Ghana and project them to the world,” he said.
Mr Boadu explained that the mentorship and refinement support for the top three overall winners would help improve the quality of their products and prepare them for the market, while opportunities would also be explored to host the games on MTN’s platform.
He said gaming extended beyond entertainment and could serve as an educational tool to enhance public understanding of subjects such as financial literacy and agriculture.
The range of entries submitted reflects the growing interest among local developers and students in creating interactive digital products, with the competition providing a platform to demonstrate their creativity and technical capabilities.
Ms Venus Tawiah, Director of Women’s Esports at the Esports Association of Ghana and one of the judges for the contest, described the initiative as an important step towards strengthening Ghana’s participation in the global gaming industry.
She said the industry presented significant opportunities for Africa, making it essential for local developers to build their capacity to create games and benefit from the sector’s growth.
Ms Tawiah noted that gaming could support a number of sectors beyond entertainment and said the development of local capacity would enable Ghana to participate more actively in the industry’s expansion.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim
Email: [email protected]