February 2, 2023
The 2022 Ghana Science & Tech Explorer Prize (GSTEP) Challenge comes to an end with an Exhibition and Awards ceremony at the Accra International Conference Center on Wednesday 25th January, 2022.The event crowned off the series of activities for the challenge prize that focused on providing Ghanaian youth with relevant skills, knowledge and experiences in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and entrepreneurship while addressing key issues that affect communities and society at large.
In attendance were Hon. Dr. Yaw Adutwum – Minister of Education, Dr. Adu Nkansah – Director General.of GES, Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV – Osu Mantse, Her Excellency Simone Giger- Swiss Ambassador, representatives from Fondation Botnar, National STEM Coordinators, facilitators, GSTEP Judges, GSTEP consortium, Mentors, Youth Ambassadors, and the Media Corps.
All fifty finalist teams from the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions showcased their prototypes at an exhibition open to the general public. The event offered the opportunity for the students, parents, STEM related groups, GSTEP partners and key stakeholders in the education sector to appreciate the innovative inventions by the teams. As part of the event, visitors to the exhibition stands had the opportunity to vote for their favourite team, exhibition stand and prototype to win the People’s Choice Award.
The awards ceremony was held to celebrate all finalist teams, recognise outstanding personalities and institutions and reward top performers. The Genius Six of Uaddara from Uaddara Basic School in the Ashanti region were crowned winners of the Challenge for their Illuminated Road Safety Device. The school received STEM equipment and materials valued at GHS 80,000. Each team member received STEM materials and devices valued at GHS 4,000. The team’s teacher received a cash prize GHS 6,000 and a Cousera and data subscription valued at GHS 4,000.
The LPG Detector team Osu Home JHS and Magnificents from Obuasi JHS were runner ups of the Challenge for the LPG detector and waste collector prototypes. Each team member of the LPG Detector and Magnificents teams received STEM materials and devices valued at GHS 2,500 and GHS 1,500 respectively. The teachers of LPG Detector and Magnificents teams received cash prizes of GHS 3,500 and GHS 2,500 respectively and Coursera and data subscriptions valued at GHS 4,000 each. The schools of LPG Detector and Magnificents will receive STEM materials and equipment valued at GHS 50,000 and GHS 30,000 respectively.
The Minister of Education, Honorable Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum was impressed with the young innovators’ attitude toward learning and completing the Challenge. He expressed his belief that the younger generation, through initiatives like the GSTEP Challenge will put Ghana among the world’s best innovative countries. He touched on the various STEM schools that are being built across the country and was delighted to share their progress with the audience.
The judges of the Challenge echoed this same pride in the students’ projects and the skills they had gained such as project management, critical thinking and problem solving during the Challenge. They were also impressed by the students’ awareness of environmental issues and highlighted it as a sign that the next generation will be better equipped to handle the environmental problems our world faces today.
The GSTEP Challenge will offer more Ghanaian youth the opportunity to participate in the program. The next year will have 100 finalist teams with students from the Eastern Region of Ghana joining the Challenge. The program will continue to enable students to collaborate and compete to produce products and services aimed at tackling key issues in communities across Ghana and society at large.