Chief Executive Officer of PopOut/eSports Academy and Vice President of the Esports Association of Ghana, Maximus Ametorgoh, has called for the introduction of eSports clubs in Senior High Schools, similar to science clubs or the National Science and Maths Quiz, to help Ghana identify and develop talent from a young age.

Speaking at the MTN DigiFest 2025 Gaming Focus Group and Closing Session held at the company’s head office, he said early investment in structured training is key if Ghana wants to compete globally in the gaming space.

“The way we have science clubs in the various secondary schools, can we have the eSports clubs as well,” he said.

“That way, we can develop talent from the first year of SHS, then create a pipeline into national teams. Like how the GFA selects players for the Black Stars, they don’t need to scout from scratch because there will already be a pool of talent to pick from.”

Mr Ametorgoh said that, unlike Ghana, other countries have established academies where students are trained not only to play but to understand game development and mechanics.

“In Saudi Arabia, we have over 47,000 students at the basic level who are doing eSports. It’s part of the activities they do in schools. They have coaches who train them for six months, sometimes a year.

"They learn about the game, how it was developed, the mechanics, even the bugs. That way, when they play, they understand and appreciate it better. So they will not lack talent,” he explained.

Mr Ametorgoh also spoke about the financial challenges facing Ghana’s eSports community.

“Everything boils down to money. In the eSports space, you can do a lot in your own small corner, but if you don’t have any support, you will just be in the dark,” he said.

According to him, most teams rely on competitions and prize pools for support.

“When we organise competitions and announce a prize pool, it excites the community. Players then try harder to compete and win, and that’s how some teams get financial backing,” he explained.

However, he said, attracting investors remains a major hurdle, noting that “If you walk to a typical investor in Ghana and say, ‘I have an eSports team, can you invest in my team,’ I’m not sure they will mind.

"That is a problem we have in Ghana. What is intangible, we normally don’t value. But if you’re selling tomatoes or something physical, you’ll easily get support,” he said.

Mr Ametorgoh added that despite these challenges, local organisers continue to scout talent within communities and train them to represent Ghana on bigger international stages.

On his part, the Manager for Video and Gaming at MTN Ghana, Yaw Antwi Boadu, spoke about the wider profitability of gaming and the role of telcos in supporting the industry.

“Beyond the sales, there are other channels that generate revenue. Media is one space, in-app purchases are another, and sponsorship also plays a big role. But at the centre of it all is the community you build.”

He explained the importance of reliable internet connectivity to the growth of eSports, saying that network quality can determine success or failure in competitive play.

“You cannot play eSports without the backbone of the network. That’s where MTN comes in. Even though we are not on 5G yet, we are optimising our 4G network to cut back on latency.

"Imagine you are playing against someone in France with 5G while you’re on 4G. If your latency is poor, you’ll lose before you even realise it. That’s why speed is everything.”

Mr Boadu also noted the potential of mobile money to drive gaming growth in Africa.

“In Europe, payments are made through cards and PayPal. But in Ghana, Mobile Money is used by nearly 90% of the population. If we integrate MoMo fully into the ecosystem, it will help gamers, developers, and communities transact easily,” he said.

He added that spectators also have a key role in the growth of eSports.

“I was surprised to see eight and nine-year-olds watching games being streamed online. That tells you how the journey is moving. People are not only playing, but they are also consuming content, and that itself generates revenue.”