Ghana has the most vibrant technology hub in Africa – Ursula Owusu brags

Minister for Communication, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says Ghana is the most vibrant technology hub on the African continent.

This she attributes to what she calls the success of the government's support for the application and software industry.

Speaking at the grand finale of Miss Geek Ghana 2019, the Minister congratulated the ten finalists who made it to the final and also encouraged both foreign and local invested to hop onto these amazing technologies invented by these young ladies.

The visibly excited Minister explained, “Ghana’s application and software industry is growing at a phenomenal pace which indicates the country is up to something good here.”

“It’s up to us the policy makers to identify the opportunities here, assist those with creative ideas, work with them, give them the resources they need to develop better and help them to even serve an internship programme with some of the existing technology and software application development companies in the country and even promote partnerships between them,” She admonished.

About Miss Geek Ghana

Miss Geek Ghana is a research and entrepreneurship competition that seeks to promote and encourage young women between the ages of 13 and 25 years in ICT. The program encourages young women to submit apps that solve social and economic issues in Ghana.

The program is designed to make young women more innovative in using technological approach to solve problems.

Winner of the competition walks away with a cash prize of GHC10,000, a laptop, internet connection for one year, assistance to develop concept into a prototype, and also represent Ghana at the Miss Geek Africa Competition in Guinea, Conakry.

The first runner up gets GHC7,500, a laptop, one year’s internet connection, and assistance to develop a concept into a prototype, while the second runner up gets GHC5,000 plus everything else the first runner up gets. The remaining seven finalists get GHC2,000 each.

Objectives of Miss Geek Ghana

The main objective of Geek Ghana is to create high awareness and encourage girls /women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) within the next five years, and to show that individual girls and women can develop IT-based concepts and solutions to address social issues in Ghana and beyond.

The Ministry said the competition was also designed to inspire 2% of girls/women across Ghana to solve challenges in the country using technology annually, promote innovation among 20% of Ghanaian girls in STEM annually, and contribute to the attainment of SDGs Goal 1 - No Poverty, Goal 2 - Zero Hunger, Goal 5 – Gender Equality, Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth and Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities.

Winners of Miss Geek Ghana 2019 and their innovations

Ultimate winner - Domi-Kumowu-Ama Selasi , developed a mobile money app “ Kasa-Casy System’

1st runner up - Atta Abdul karimNajilau Dramundu developed Cineplex, ( Movie app )

2nd runner up - Molly Esi Sutherland developed Pregta Application (Pregnacy App)

Audrey Boateng , developed CropApp

Zita Ursula Zage, developed AutmoflexTechnologies

Abigail E. D York, developed Smart Insecticides Bulb

Precious Appiah, developed Terminal 3

Freda AduAmankwah, developed Health Stats

Shirley Amenyah, developed Digital Literacy app

Rebecca Gagblezu, developed Findrapidly