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More Women Are Joining the Gaming Lifestyle in Ghana

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About 4.5% of all gamers on earth live in Sub-Saharan Africa. And Ghana has been identified as one of the countries leading the way for gaming on the continent. About 27% of Ghanaians live the gamer lifestyle, according to Esports analysis. More and more women have been joining this lifestyle, significantly transforming the country’s gaming landscape.

Gaming has traditionally been a male-dominated lifestyle. Of late, however, the presence of women and girls in such global Esports as CS:GO, Dota 2, and LoL has gained much attention.

With gaming or eSport, as it commonly is referred to, being one the world’s fastest-growing sports, we must appreciate the girls and women paving the way for the industry in Ghana.

Female Gamers Making a Mark in Ghana’s Esports Arena

A recent survey found that many girls and women in Ghana often play video games on consoles, computers, and smartphones daily.

Gendered perceptions and societal expectations of women’s roles have long been an impediment for girls wanting to game. However, family dynamics and structures in most Ghanaian households have changed a lot since the pandemic. Digital services are now more popular and readily available. This has allowed more and more women to break into the male-dominated gaming lifestyle.

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Most female gamers do It casually—they dip in and out of their favorite games at their convenience. However, gaming statistics show that many women in the country now play competitively, with some even going pro.

Monica “GamerGirlNica” Mensah Sefakor is one of Ghana’s top professional Esport players. She has already carved a big name for herself as one of Ghana’s top FIFA gamers. Monica has played competitively in multiple global tournaments, including the Commonwealth Esports Championship (CEC).

For Ritalucia Henry-Andoh, a Ghanaian-Nigeria gamer, playing videos isn’t just an exciting pastime; it pays her bills too. Rita says that, as an online gamer, she makes about $100 monthly. She hopes that in the coming year, gaming will be her full-time career.

Of course, there are a lot of other female streamers who play and even bet on LOL, CS:GO, Valorant, and similar games. The ones mentioned above are just a few in a sea of many.

Creating A Safe Space for Female Gamers in Ghana

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Competitive gaming for women isn’t easy. Being male-dominated, women venturing into the gaming lifestyle frequently face harassment and sexism. The hostility towards women gamers is clearly demonstrated by a New York Times report that about three-quarters of women who play online games do so with their voice commands turned off.

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Annabel Ashley-Antony, a female gamer in Ghana, hopes to create a safe gaming space for girls in Accra through her Melanin Gamers collective.

With diversity and inclusivity plaguing the industry, organizations like Melanin Gamers are dedicated to creating a safe space for female gamers. The organization has, in fact, hosted multiple Esports tournaments in Ghana and other locations around the globe. Female gamers are always encouraged to participate in these tournaments.

Female Gamers Have Increased Universally

Gaming consultants Redseer reported that almost half of gamers in Saudi Arabia are women. With 70% of the nation’s population taking part in active gaming, the popularity of gaming among women is significant.

This trend is replicated in many other countries globally. For instance, one in two American gamers is female. A US-based company, Entertainment Software Association, found that 48% of folks who actively play video games in the country identified as female.

According to Newzoo, 72% of women globally have played Esports in the past six months. Indeed, as far as we know, what male gamers can do, female gamers can also do. We can, therefore, no longer deny that women are a key demographic plugging in to play Esports.

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Consequently, future game design and creation must take note and develop games that appeal to all genders, including women.

Developers Recognize Increased Female Gamers Presence

The trend in most video games has been to typecast female video game characters as either damsels in distress or just risqué sex objects. People are, however, waking up to the fact that female gamers constitute a large proportion of game consumers. As such, developers are fine

tuning their releases in favor of their female customers.

The portrayal of women in most recent games of late has changed in more ways than we can list. For starters, the representation of female characters has increased. Nowadays, it’s also common for women to be portrayed less hypersexually.

We are seeing fewer damsels in distress. Instead, female protagonists in video games today have deeper storylines and motivations. Indeed, female characters being created now are more powerful and capable than ever.

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People & Lifestyle

Mr. Beast in Ghana: Surprising Visit Sparks Excitement

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Mr. Beast

World-renowned YouTuber Mr. Beast, known for his philanthropic acts, has been spotted in Ghana, specifically in Accra and Tema, sparking excitement among locals.

His visit has led to discussions about his choice of Ghana over other African countries, with some suggesting that the country’s popularity as a tourist destination played a role.

Mr. Beast’s presence in Ghana is part of his global outreach, as he recently gifted a Ghanaian $25,000 as part of his X (Twitter) giveaway.

Read Also: Producers of 'Beast of No Nation' return to filming in Ghana, causing upset in parliament

The YouTuber has been seen exploring the country and interacting with locals, with many expressing their desire to meet him and participate in his charitable endeavors.

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Stephen Appiah to contest John Dumelo and Lydia Alhassan in MP race for Ayawaso West Wuogon

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Stephen Appiah to contest John Dumelo and Lydia Alhassan

Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah is set to enter the political fray by rubbing shoulders with notable personalities in the upcoming general elections.

The former Juventus midfielder is believed to be lacing his boots to face the likes of John Dumelo and the incumbent member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency Lydia Alhassan.

While Dumelo and Alhassan represents the NDC and NPP respectively, Appiah is expected feature in the elections as an independent candidate.

This was revealed by the Spokesperson of the Ayew family Fiifi Tackie via X on Friday afternoon.

“Stephen Appiah to contest Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency as an independent Parliamentary candidate,” he wrote.

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If Stephen Appiah affirms the reported news, he will be following in the footsteps of other renowned figures in Ghana football who have indulged in politics recently.

Earlier this year, all-time top scorer of the Black Stars Asamoah Gyan was appointed as the sub-committee chair of Youth and Sports in the campaign committee of Dr Bawumia, the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

In acceptance of the appointment, Gyan emphasised the need to share hos ideas garnered through experience in the game.

Anas took $100,000 to stop documentary release – Kwesi Nyantakyi
‘I have enough experience to contribute to sports – Asamoah Gyan reacts to political appointment
“I always ask myself, how do we create change if we don’t want to change? How do we spectate without being on the bench, and how do we score without being on the field?… All I know and will ever know, all I love and will ever love is SPORTS.” he stated.

Another figure in Ghana football who recently announced his intention to engage in partisan politics is Kwesi Nyantakyi, former Ghana Football Association (GFA).

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The former football administrator showed up as one of the candidates to contest in the NPP primaries for the Ejisu constituency following the demise of incumbent John Kumah.

However, it didn’t pan out well for the former Wa All Stars owner as he lost disappointingly.

He garnered a paltry 35 votes after close to 1,081 delegates had cast their votes in the parliamentary primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) held in the Ejisu Constituency on April 13.

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Rebecca Osam: A Champion for Women’s Empowerment in Africa

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In a heartfelt social media post, Rebecca Osam, Managing Director of Reflo Company Limited, Reflo’s TV, and Femme Fatale Productions Limited, has pledged her full commitment to empowering young women.

Rebecca expressed her desire to move beyond mere inspiration and instead build a deeper connection with young women, offering guidance and support to help them achieve their goals.

Her passion for women’s empowerment stems from her experiences growing up in Africa, where she witnessed firsthand the oppression and lack of opportunities faced by women. This drove her to co-found The Florence Mensah Foundation with her mother, aiming to empower African women and girls, and encourage them to recognise their worth, strength, and potential.

Through her foundation and personal endeavors, Rebecca seeks to provide a supportive platform for young women to thrive. She aims to be a relatable figure, offering mentorship and encouragement to help them overcome challenges and achieve success on their own terms.

Rebecca’s dedication to empowering young women proves her leadership and commitment to creating positive change in her community. Her efforts serve as an inspiration to others, highlighting the impact one person can have in driving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

As Rebecca continues her work, her message resonates with young women across Africa: “Anything is possible, and I am here to support and cheer you on every step of the way.”

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Caradise Ghana Car Rental Facilitates Transportation for Global Christian Forum held in Accra

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Caradise Ghana Car Rental has once again successfully facilitated the transportation of over 240 participants from 60 countries across the globe for the recently ended Global Christian Forum in Accra, Ghana.

Numerous buses hauled the various participants from the Airport to their designated hotels from the 12th to 15th of April, 2024. Participants were then transported from their hotels to the conference grounds daily for the gathering of devoted Christians from the 16th to the 19th of April, 2024.

The forum began with a vibrant, joyful worship service held at Accra Ridge Church. The Rev. Dr. Casely Essamuah welcomed participants to Ghana and to the Fourth Global Gathering, and participants spent the day sharing their faith stories with one another across the litany of differences represented. 

The forum was climaxed with a dinner and 25th anniversary celebration at the Action Chapel Internation Church hosted by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams.

After the forum, the participants took the opportunity to visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum where they learnt about the great Pan-Africanist, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Ghana’s journey to inpendence.

The participants also spent a day in Cape Coast where they learnt about the millions of enslaved, dehumanised African men, women, and children at the Cape Coast Castle. Witnessing first hand how Africans were forcibly taken captive to the Americas, Caribbean, and Europe as objects of lucrative trade.

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DJ Khaled Announces Second Annual We The Best Foundation Golf Classic On June 12 & 13 in Miami Beach !

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GRAMMY® Award-winning, global megastar DJ Khaled proudly announces the return of his annual WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC for the second year in a row.

For 2024, the mega-popular charity event expands to two days on Wednesday June 12 and Thursday June 13 in Miami, FL. Given the demand by countless superstar artists, A-list athletes, and entertainers to participate, he needed to stretch the proceedings over two days!

Once again, the event will be sponsored by Jordan Brand, and all proceeds support the We The Best Foundationand its numerous efforts to bolster education. Stay tuned for the multitude of exciting confirmed guests, and more.

Khaled created a cultural groundswell and personally appeared on ESPN’s SPORTSCENTER to break the news of the second installment of the WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC today. Watch HERE.

Regarding the return of the WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC, he commented, “Last year, the WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC brought out so many friends and family to make a difference, play some great golf, and have an incredible day for a great cause. This year, we’re going even bigger, and we thank everyone for their continued support. TEE UP AND BLESS UP!”

Last year, the inaugural WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC hosted Serena Williams, pro golfers Michael Block and Bubba Watson, Odell Beckham, JR., Shannon Sharpe, Victor Cruz, Jalen Rose, Terrell Owens, Marcus Jordan, Jeezy, Quavo, The-Dream, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Fat Joe, Cedric The Entertainer, Joey Fatone, and more. The foundation raised over $500,000 which benefited the enrichment of children and youth through educational programming, scholarships, and extracurricular activities.

More guests and partners for 2024 will be unveiled soon.

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Ghanaian activist hugs over 1,100 trees in an hour to set record

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An environmental activist and forestry student from Ghana has set a new world record for the most trees hugged in one hour. (more…)

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