2021: EAG’s Year of Expansion
The Esports Association of Ghana (EAG) has been slowly growing from strength to strength over the last couple of years. However, last year (2021) may have seen the association take its biggest leap forward since its founding in 2016; as several corporate entities took an interest in the emerging sport by supporting the EAG
The biggest support would come from e-commerce platform Jumia as they would host the biggest esports event the country has ever seen as 231 gamers from 3 different regions (Ashanti, Western and Greater Accra) would duke it out in EA Sports FIFA21 for a cash prize of GH₵20,000 in a competition dubbed the “Jumia FIFA21 Esports Tournament.”
President of the EAG, Kwesi Hayford, spoke exclusively with EAN about other landmarks the association made in 2021 “The Jumia deal was a great one. Then came the TCL event then came the NBA2K event with the Levels Unlocked agency from the US with Dr Melita [N. Moore] and crew. These are all events that really have catapulted esports in the space.”
However, despite the EAG taking a huge leap forward which saw the association hold around 20 events in 2021 (many of which were supported by corporate Ghana), Hayford believes that the association’s greatest achievement for the year was its expansion into the Volta, Ashanti and Western regions of the country.
“For me, [the highlight] of 2021 was the ability to go to the other regions to activate grassroots participation, we can’t say we are growing if we are only staying in Accra.”
“I like going to the Takoradi, I like going to the Ashanti and Ho, so that the gamers of every region know that they are being catered for and they can really participate in the growth of esports.” He further stated
Due to this, the EAG is looking at further expansion this year as explained by President Hayford “This year, we are looking at Eastern, North and some other part of the country we have yet to reach. So that we can make sure that esports is not only in the capital Accra.”
