MTN Ghana’s maiden DigiFest contest showcases emerging game developers at KNUST

MTN Ghana has showcased emerging game development talent at the maiden edition of the DigiFest Game Developer Contest 2026, held at the College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The competition, introduced as part of the telecommunications company's 30th anniversary celebrations, attracted more than 50 entries, with 10 projects shortlisted for assessment.

The initiative seeks to promote local innovation, empower young developers and encourage the creation of Ghanaian-owned digital content that reflects the country's culture and experiences.

Held under the theme “Build. Showcase. Defend Your Game,” the contest brought together university students and community-based developers to demonstrate their projects before a panel of judges, receive industry feedback and compete for prizes and opportunities to advance their work.

Ten projects shortlisted for competition

The 10 finalists were divided into two categories, with five projects selected in each.

The University Category featured Sankofa, Megamind, Fourcorners, Four Goal Football and The Warehouse, while the Community Category comprised KONK, African Household Drama, RPS Boxing, Path Puzzle and Akofena.

During the event, developers presented and defended their projects, explaining their concepts and demonstrating the technical and creative features of their games.

The competition was open to students from universities and tertiary institutions across Ghana, as well as independent developers, game development teams, studios and members of game development communities. Participants could enter individually or in teams of up to three members, with each team submission counted as a single entry.

Entries were assessed on user interface and user experience, code quality, creativity, originality, gameplay and their potential for further development and commercialisation.

MacBook Pro, Galaxy Tab and iPhone 17 Air prizes

MTN Ghana has lined up technology devices for the top three projects in each category as part of efforts to reward innovation and support the developers' continued work.

First-place winners are expected to receive a MacBook Pro, second-place winners a Galaxy Tab, and third-place winners an iPhone 17 Air.

Beyond the prizes, participants are expected to benefit from mentorship and technical guidance to strengthen their projects and prepare them for possible commercial release.

The contest is being organised in collaboration with KNUST, building on an earlier partnership between the institutions involving an artificial intelligence competition.

MTN seeks to strengthen Ghana's gaming industry

Yaw Antwi Boadu, Manager for Video and Gaming at MTN Ghana, said the competition was part of efforts to build local capacity in game development and reduce the country's reliance on games produced outside Africa.

He said Ghanaian developers had the potential to create original products that reflect local experiences, preserve cultural identity and introduce Ghanaian stories to international audiences.

According to him, MTN Ghana aims to provide an environment where talented young people can turn their ideas into digital products and generate commercial value from their work.

Mr Boadu also indicated that the contest was expected to become an annual event, with future editions potentially held in different locations to expand participation and promote innovation across the country.

He highlighted the potential of gaming beyond entertainment, including the development of interactive products to improve public understanding of subjects such as financial literacy and agriculture.

He further clarified that the competition focused on digital game creation and was distinct from betting activities.

Judges highlight Ghanaian culture in digital games

Ms Venus Tawia, Director of Women’s Esports at the Esports Association of Ghana and leader of Queens Africa, a women’s esports community, called for greater investment in locally developed games to help Ghana benefit from the expanding digital economy.

Speaking as one of the judges, she said the initiative could provide aspiring developers with an opportunity to take their first steps towards creating games that could be tested, improved, published and monetised.

She noted that gaming combines several creative and technical disciplines, including coding, music, entertainment and digital design, offering young people opportunities to develop diverse skills and pursue careers in the digital industry.

Ms Tawia expressed particular excitement about the cultural elements incorporated into some of the shortlisted projects, especially those featuring Ghanaian languages, local storytelling and experiences drawn from everyday life.

She said such games could introduce Ghana’s cultural heritage to international audiences through an engaging digital platform.

She urged stakeholders to equip emerging developers with the skills, resources, mentorship and market access needed to transform their ideas into sustainable products.

Contestants welcome platform for local talent

Some participants praised MTN Ghana for creating an opportunity to showcase their work and gain exposure within the gaming industry.

Clement Asare, an information technology student at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra, expressed appreciation to the company for supporting the initiative.

Mantey Calib, developer of Akofena, also commended MTN Ghana for backing local game development and providing creators with a platform to present their projects.

The competition opened on August 24, 2026, and closed on October 19, 2026, ahead of the showcase at KNUST on October 26.

DigiFest creates opportunities for young innovators

The maiden DigiFest Game Developer Contest has highlighted the potential of gaming to bring together technology, education, culture and entrepreneurship while opening new opportunities for Ghanaian youth.

Locally developed games could create opportunities for software developers, graphic designers, musicians and storytellers to collaborate, develop original intellectual property and build products for domestic and international markets.

The initiative could also strengthen Ghana’s digital innovation ecosystem by encouraging young people to view game development as a viable career and business opportunity.

As the contest looks towards future editions, sustained mentorship, investment and access to digital distribution platforms will be important in helping promising projects progress beyond the competition and reach commercial markets.

By bringing emerging developers together at KNUST, MTN Ghana is supporting a growing creative field in which Ghanaian talent can tell local stories, build businesses and compete in the global gaming industry.