Ghana’s video gaming and Esports industry is emerging as a significant part of the country’s digital economy, with more than US$121 million spent on video game downloads and subscriptions last year.

The figure, disclosed by Vice President of the Esports Association Ghana, Maximus Ametorgoh, highlights the growing commercial potential of an industry that is increasingly moving beyond entertainment into a source of income, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation.

Speaking on the final day of National ICT Week 2026, Mr Ametorgoh said the level of spending demonstrates that gaming is becoming a serious economic opportunity for Ghana.

“Last year, 121 million dollars was spent on video game downloads and subscriptions in Ghana. That's a growing sector.”

He explained that the gaming economy extends beyond simply buying and playing games, with players and developers able to generate income through the creation and sale of virtual products.

“Video game, you keep playing it, you can even sell items within the video game.”

According to him, players can create and sell virtual items, including clothing and upgrades for gaming avatars, opening new avenues for young people to participate in the digital economy.

“If I want to give you a dress or a power to give your avatar strength, I can sell it for maybe two dollars or 0.99 dollars.”

Mr Ametorgoh believes such transactions point to the future of entertainment, where digital products can become valuable commodities and young people can build businesses around their creativity and technical skills.

“You can make a lot of money, and I think that is the next generation when it comes to entertainment.”

His comments come as stakeholders increasingly call on Ghanaians to move beyond being passive consumers of digital technologies and develop the skills to become creators, developers and innovators.

For Ghana’s young digital population, the growing gaming and Esports market could create opportunities in game development, content creation, digital design, programming, competitive gaming and the creation and sale of virtual products.

National ICT Week 2026 ended on August 20, with stakeholders urging Ghana to harness emerging digital sectors such as artificial intelligence, gaming and Esports to create jobs, generate revenue and deepen participation in the digital economy.