Safaribet, a sports bookmaker established in Ghana eight months ago and rapidly spreading its branches all over the country last Sunday hosted the media and some special guests to an Exclusive Christmas Party at the Ball Room of the plush Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) was well represented by its executive and members together with some business reporters and ministers of state. Among the dignitaries who graced the Party were Hon. Ato Ahwoi and Kwesi Ahwoi, Dominic Fobih, Hon. Julius Debrah, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, former Minister of Finance Kwame Peprah, Mathias Tibu, Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Ackah Anthony, President of SWAG, Nii Laryea Sowah, representing PRINPAG and the Gaming Commissioner. Halit Karabashoglu, Chairman of Africa Gaming and Entertainment Limited, owners of Safaribet said, Safaribet is Ghana’s first licensed online bookmaker. “We entered the Ghanaian market for the first time in November 2012 with our first Gaming Centre on the Oxford Street in Osu. Shortly afterwards, we began works on a number of branches in key areas of Accra, including Darkuman, Pig Farm, Tudu, and Kaneshie. By April 21, 2013 when we officially launched the Safaribet brand at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, we had 5 outlets. But we were convinced about the huge potential of our business in Ghana. So we set some ambitious expansion targets for ourselves” he stressed. He informed guests that the business has seen tremendous growth over the last few months of operation. From a modest number of 5 outlets in April, 2013, Safaribet now has 110 big shops and 20 agencies in 8 out of the 10 regions of Ghana. He said the business has created new permanent full time employment for 450 Ghanaians with comfortable salaries and attractive conditions of service. “Our betting website, www.safaribet.com.gh is ranked the 23rd most popular website in Ghana by the global site ranking website www.alexa.com. According to the statistics, each visitor to our website spends nearly 29-minutes on the site per visit. That is phenomenal and places Safaribet only behind Facebook, but above Google Ghana and all other popular websites in Ghana. We currently have over 8,000 active online customers who play our games on their phones, tablets and computers on a daily basis” said Karabashoglu. He hinted that within the next 100 days, they are opening 250 new Safaribet shops across the 10 regions of Ghana. This will create 1,000 new permanent jobs for young Ghanaians. This will bring the total jobs created to about 1,500. By 2017, we are certain of exceeding our total employment target of 4,000. “We believe in the fantastic business opportunities available in Ghana. As a result we have so far invested in excess of $2million dollars into the Ghanaian economy. We plan to invest even more in the coming months including a 24-hour sports radio station. We are also finalising plans to invest in the construction of affordable houses, and renewable energy to create more jobs for Ghanaians” he added. Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi urged Ghanaians to patronize Safaribet and win as well as make merry and have fun. He thrilled patrons at the dinner with a song and the whole Ball room got charged. It was not surprising many people took to the floor to dance and make the host excited. Ackah Anthony, the President of the SWAG commended Safaribet for creating jobs in the country and welcomed them to sponsor the least financed sporting disciplines which are loved in the country. He promised that the media is always there to report the good business they are doing in Ghana