Team Akofena wins maiden MTN Ghana DigiFest game developer contest

Telecommunications giant MTN Ghana has organised the maiden edition of DigiFest 2026, a game developer contest in a landmark initiative aimed at reshaping West Africa’s digital economy.

From over 50 entries received nationwide, organisers selected 10 standout projects for rigorous evaluation. At the end of the thrilling contest, Team Akofena, led by Caleb Mantey, took the coveted prize, followed by African Household Drama, led by Abigail Yaa Selasi Birikorang, and Path Puzzle, led by Apau Gyedu Ebenezer, in second and third positions, respectively.

Akofena is a browser-based 2.5D fighting game that reimagines Ghanaian heroes and folk legends as playable characters. African Household Drama is a choice-based storytelling prototype inspired by growing up in a Ghanaian household, while Path Puzzle is a 3D maze puzzle inspired by Ananse’s quest for a gourd of wisdom, where players rotate blocks to open paths and guide Ananse to the goal before time runs out.

The contest, organised as part of MTN’s milestone 30th anniversary celebrations, sought to encourage the development of indigenous video games that reflect Ghanaian and African values and stories. It was also designed to catalyse local innovation, nurture emerging software talent and showcase Ghana’s rich cultural tapestry on the global stage.

Held under the theme “Build, Showcase and Defend Your Game” at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the competition provided the opportunity for the game developers to showcase their creativity through their respective projects before a panel of judges.

The Manager for Video and Gaming at MTN Ghana, Yaw Antwi Boadu, said the competition formed an integral part of a broader strategy to build robust, indigenous technical capacity while systematically reducing Ghana’s reliance on foreign digital media. “Our developers possess the authentic lived experiences, creative ingenuity, and storytelling prowess needed to project Ghanaian heritage onto the international stage,” he stated.

He emphasised that gaming was a big thing among the youth, but unfortunately most of the games were developed by foreigners, saying “what we want to do is to allow people to develop games locally to tell our stories.” He clarified that the competition strictly focuses on interactive digital game development, distinguishing it entirely from sports betting or gambling, and assured that the contest would be held annually and rotated across the country.

Highlighting the economic and cultural significance of the sector, the Director of Women’s Esports at the Esports Association of Ghana, Venus Tawia, emphasised the need for strategic investment in local content creation. “Gaming is a unique confluence of interdisciplinary skills—blending complex software engineering, sound architecture, graphic design, and interactive narrative art. MTN’s initiative offers a vital launching pad for developers to thrive within the dynamic digital economy,” she stated.

Ms Tawia praised the shortlisted teams for weaving authentic Ghanaian elements into their game mechanics, including native languages, folklore and relatable everyday experiences.

An IT student at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Clement Asare, expressed gratitude for the national platform offered for game developers to showcase their creativity. For his part, a creator of the community-tier project Akofena, Caleb Mantey, commended MTN for placing indigenous developers at the centre of Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.