Akatakyie-USA supports OWASS team to win 'big' at 2018 ROBOFEST competition in Michigan

The USA based Old Students Association of Opoku Ware School, Akatakyie-USA, embarked on a massive support, which contributed to the success of the OWASS Robotic Team at the 2018 World ROBOFEST Competition held at Lawrence Technological University in Detroit Southfield, MI, USA.

The OWASS Robotic Team captured the coveted 2018 Innovation Award in the Senior Category.

AKATAKYIE USA contributed towards sending the OWASS Team to USA and taking care of its accommodation and welfare needs while in the USA. The United States Alumni Association was represented in Detroit by its National President, Kat. Samuel Frimpong (X78), National Secretary, Kat. Agbeko Agbenyiga (AC44) and the New England Chapter President, Kat. Nii Armah Ollenu (AN198).

Together, they provided coaching, support and encouragement to the Team as it prepared towards the Competition. In addition, the old students mobilized the Ghanaian community in Detroit to support their beloved Ghana team.

The OWASS team, headed by Emmanuel Kofi Asare Yeboah (BV29), included Peter Kwasi Sarpong Amprako (BV115), Nathaniel Okine (BW589), Mafred Ngoyia Tucker (BV809) and Papa Yaw Boakye-Acheampong (BV148) with their volunteer coach Mr. Emmanuel Adu. The team competed for this trophy against 23 teams from around the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

With the strength and spirit of Akatakyie at home and abroad, parents of team members, Opoku Ware School, the Ghanaian community in Detroit and the Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation, the OWASS Robotic Team entered the competition with confidence. Through hard work, disciplined training and perseverance, the team completed the competition earning the coveted Innovation Award.

Special thanks to the following key Akatakyie for their support and contributions towards the successful competition by the OWASS robotic team: Kat. Kwasi Boakye-Acheampong (AK148) for his immense contribution to the team’s preparation for the 2018 Competition, Kat. David Amo-Osae Jr. (AM108) for his financial support and presence in Detroit to welcome the OWASS team before the arrival of the AKATAKYIE USA Executives, AKATAKYIE USA Executives (Kat. Samuel Frimpong, Kat. Agbeko Agbenyiga and Kat. Nii Armah Ollenu) for assisting the team with mental, physical and emotional fortitude for the competition, Kat. Kwabena Sarpong (AH11) and Kat. Nii Armah Ollenu for their financial support. Special thanks also to the parents of the competing team members, especially Mr. and Mrs. Asare Yeboah and family, whose presence and support were critical to the team’s success.

In an exclusive one-on-one interview with Solomon Owusu from Amenado Radio in Colorado, USA, the President of AKATAKYIE-USA, Professor Samuel Frimpong solicited strong support from all Akatakyie for the OWASS Robotic Team to develop competencies for future endeavors.

He also admonished alumni from other schools in Ghana in the Diaspora to support their alma mater to produce future technology savvy graduates and professionals for Ghana.

According to him, the government cannot do it alone, and thus, there is a need for alumni to contribute towards helping their alma mater to help educate highly qualified graduates for Ghana.