The world of sports provides nourishment for lifting the image of a country and much significance is given to promote it. A sport does not just underscore the physical fitness of sportspersons but also defines the degree of competency of a country. Further, sports bind the citizens and promote patriotism.
Football, the national sport of Ghana has always been a craze among the young and the old alike in the country. Although Rugby is gathering some momentum, football as a sport has won the hearts of the Ghanaians. This is evident from the kind of exposure given to it – be it for flags on cars, stickers in taxis, locals in football jerseys or children playing in the streets.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Ghanaians have developed a great affinity to organized sports. It has led to the formation of the first sports association called the Gold Coast Football Association (GCFA) now Ghana Football Association established in 1920. Ghana as Gold Coast (combined with British Togo land comprising current Togo and Volta region of Ghana) participated in its first-ever Olympic Games held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952.
Ghana has legalized sports betting – regulated since 1960. Sportsbooks permit Ghanaians to bet in-person or online on the teams of their choice. There are over 20 legal sports betting companies in Ghana and soon with their growing popularity many more are expected to surface. COVID-19 has affected sports betting and its impact is expected to stay for quite some time. With very relaxed taxation laws it is not known where the revenue from sports betting goes in Ghana. But now Ghana has slapped a 17.5 % tax on domestic betting companies and patrons of their services. Legal sports betting sites in Ghana are, BetOnline and MyBookie. Both the sites have their entire Sportsbook available in a mobile Sportsbook version which allows those who bet on sports to place their wagers anytime and anywhere.
Whether the goal is to build a fortune through betting or derive sheer enjoyment, sports strikes the right chord in the avid Ghanaian and is there to stay.