ESPN in Ghana

Ghanaian sports fans who want an appetising menu of television programming should welcome the coming to Ghana of ESPN, arguably the global leader in sports coverage and programming, may thrill them greatly.

Anson’s Enterprise, a company that deals in import and export of building materials, is the local partner facilitating the initiative.

They are working in collaboration with World Star Media represented by Sammy Heywood Okine and the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) to see the projection of Ghana Sports to greater heights.

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, is upbeat about the initiative and has expressed willingness to partner with ESPN on sports in Ghana.

“In a meeting with the minister, he announced to the media, in principle, his willingness to look at how best we can work together - that is ESPN and the ministry of youth and sports,” Albert Anson, the CEO of Anson’s Enterprise said.

The commitment of the Ministry has been demonstrated by the setting-up of a three member ministerial committee which has been tasked to liaise with representatives of Anson’s Enterprise on how to bring the initiative into reality and fruition.

Mr. Anson stressed that Mr. Robert Wood, who would head the representatives from Anson’s Enterprise, was excited at the opportunities that the deal, if completed, would present to Ghanaians.

“Mr. Robert Wood, who would head the committee for Anson’s Enterprise, was very excited about the opportunity of bringing the many facets of entertainment that ESPN offered in the Caribbean to form a bridge between the Caribbean and Ghana; thus Ghana would become a gateway for such services to other parts of West Africa and hopefully the whole of Africa”.

Vice-President and General Manager of ESPN Caribbean and Maritime Media, Bernard Stewart, who paid a visit to Africa and Ghana for the first time said his vision for the Caribbean was to make ESPN not just a household brand but a brand that was committed to building relationships and integrating various sporting disciplines in the Caribbean.

This vision informed ESPN’s association with the West Indies Crickets who won the T20 (Twenty20) cricket championship last year, a feat and association he was proud of.

The ESPN Caribbean Vice-President explained that when the prospects available in Ghana were pitched to him by Albert Anson and Lance Roberts of LVG Holder, he (Stewards) saw some connection between what pertained in the Caribbean and what pertained in Ghana hence his enthusiasm to pull through with the deal.

He touted Ghana as a nation with great sports prospects and potentials; considerations that influenced his decision to turn his attention to Ghana.

Elaborating on exactly what Ghana stands to benefit from ESPN’s entry, Mr. Stewart opined that ESPN would explore and showcase sports in Ghana to global audience through its outlets.

Mr. Stewart expressed optimism that the deal with the local partner would be completed as soon as possible.

When the deal was sealed, ESPN would set up a home base in Ghana and would broadcast Ghanaian sports to the rest of the world with the help of other stakeholders and partners.

Whilst in Ghana, Bernard Stewart visited some boxing gyms with the President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Peter Zwennes. They went to Bukom, the home of boxing in Africa and saw the Seconds Out Gym in Accra.

ESPN has promised to support Ghana in Sports, especially in boxing, basketball, cycling, swimming and most of the least financed sporting disciplines often referred to as the lesser known sports.