Abena Osafo-Mensah on the Evolution of Ghana’s Gaming Industry and the Importance of Collaboration
In an insightful discussion at the Sports Betting West Africa Summit in Ghana, Abena Osafo-Mensah, Deputy Director Licensing and Registration at the Gaming Commission of Ghana, shared her perspectives on the evolving landscape of the industry.
As Ghana embraces its potential as a hub for gaming, Osafo-Mensah emphasized the necessity for continuous policy review, collaboration, and adaptation to global best practices.
“We have an eye on the industry, especially our operators,” Osafo-Mensah stated, emphasizing the regulatory body’s commitment to staying relevant in a rapidly changing market. She noted the significance of proactive policymaking, saying, “Gaming is a very evolving space, and constantly there are new products, new businesses that are coming up.”
Osafo-Mensah highlighted the sector’s progress by comparing Ghana’s advancements to those in more developed markets, remarking, “We seem to be doing the same things…study the best practice and then adopt what is good for your environment.”
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When asked about the key takeaway for partners and regulators at the summit, she assertively said, “Collaboration is very key, and sharing, data sharing is very key.” Abena Osafo-Mensah believes that these practices have propelled the industry forward, stating, “If we had stayed in our corner without looking outside, I don’t think we would have been on that map now.”
Addressing the recent introduction of a 10% tax on betting and gaming, Osafo-Mensah offered a measured perspective. “Laws are made to be tested,” she noted, acknowledging the ongoing assessment of the tax’s impact on operators. “As regulators, our duty will be to monitor how the rollout of this tax is going to affect gaming,” she explained, emphasizing the need for careful observation before making any definitive judgments.
In response to the possibility of refining the tax policy in the future, she remarked, “Nothing is cast in stone; laws are made to be tested.” Osafo-Mensah underscored the human element in legislation, stating, “If the reason why it was enacted…is not yielding what you are expecting, it could always be revised.”
