MTN Ghana Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, is calling for a greater embrace of gaming in Africa, describing the sector as a major opportunity for the continent’s digital and creative economy.
He says gaming should no longer be seen only as a form of entertainment, noting that the industry also has the potential to support learning, build skills and create opportunities for young people.
Speaking at the MTN Gaming Conference 2026 in Accra, Mr Blewett said Africa must begin to take the gaming industry more seriously as the sector continues to develop globally.
He called for more conversations among industry players, policymakers, educators, developers and investors on how to build an industry that can serve the needs of the African market while also competing internationally.
According to him, one of the key areas that requires attention is the development of games that tell African stories.
He said African developers must be encouraged to draw from the continent’s culture, history, traditions and everyday experiences when creating games, rather than leaving African narratives to be told mainly by developers outside the continent.
“Gaming is going to be the next big thing for Africa and this is why we have this conference. This is to bring together the gamers in Ghana, the gamers in Africa, people on our continent and outside our continent” he noted.
Mr Blewett said the conversation must therefore move beyond how Africans consume games to how the continent can become a producer of gaming content and intellectual property.
He believes this will require collaboration across the sector, with developers, investors, telecommunications companies, educators and policymakers working together to create the conditions needed for the industry to grow.
“We need to concentrate on what we do in Ghana and throughout Africa to own gaming, to make it contextual to our environments, to grow it with our people, to allow our people to develop and have jobs and have income out of gaming. We believe in gaming, we’re at the infancy of what’s going to be a massive part of our continent” he added.
The MTN Ghana CEO also highlighted the educational value of gaming, arguing that games can facilitate learning and provide young people with another avenue to develop skills.
He is consequently calling for more openness towards gaming and a better understanding of the opportunities it presents, particularly for the younger generation.
Mr Blewett said there is also a need to draw a clear roadmap for the development of gaming in Africa, describing the industry as one that is still in its infancy on the continent.
He believes having a clear direction will help stakeholders identify the gaps in the industry and determine where investment, skills development and other forms of support are required.
The comments were made at the MTN Gaming Conference 2026, a one-day conference organised by MTN Ghana in strategic partnership with Leti Arts.
The conference brought together stakeholders from across the gaming ecosystem, including developers, gaming studios, publishers, investors, esports stakeholders, educators, students, brands, policymakers and ecosystem partners.
Discussions at the conference are focused on the future of gaming, esports, mobile entertainment and the wider creative economy, with stakeholders examining opportunities for growth, innovation and investment.
The conference also highlighted the growing connection between telecommunications, technology and the creative industries, particularly as mobile devices continue to provide access to digital entertainment and gaming.
MTN Ghana says the initiative is aimed at bringing together the various players needed to strengthen the gaming ecosystem and create pathways for young people interested in the sector.
