The final day of the Sci-Tech Innovation Challenge 2024 showcased the brilliance of young minds from ten competing schools as they presented innovative projects under the theme: "Exploring Agritech Solutions to Boost Ghana’s Agricultural Industry."
The participating schools included Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion SHS, Armed Forces SHTS, Bosomtwe STEM Girls SHS, Fijai SHS, Ghana National College, Obuasi SHTS, Our Lady of Grace SHTS, Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, St. Thomas Aquinas SHS, and Sunyani SHS. Each school took turns demonstrating how their projects could transform Ghana’s agricultural sector. They highlighted practical solutions to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and lessen the workload of farmers.
The ingenuity displayed by these students affirmed that innovation holds boundless potential for addressing societal challenges. The winners of the Innovation Challenge were announced during the closing ceremony of the STEM Festival 2024.
Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Primetime Limited, Ms Nana Akua Mensa-Bonsu, reflected on the successful launch of the STEM Festival on 7 November 2024 at the GNAT Hall. She expressed her gratitude to the mentors who generously shared their expertise with the young participants, inspiring them to excel.
Ms Mensa-Bonsu also commended the ten competing schools for creating innovative projects aligned with the Sci-Tech Innovation Challenge's theme. Notable projects included:
Vertical Hydroponic System by Bosomtwe STEM Girls’ SHS: This innovation addresses food insecurity caused by land scarcity, soil degradation, and water shortages.
The Farmer’s Assistant by PRESEC-Legon: A farm monitoring system designed to improve agricultural productivity.
Integrated Farming System by Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion SHS: A solution tackling challenges in modern plant care and crop processing, such as time constraints, post-harvest losses, and environmental impacts.
Osikani Farm Solution by Obuasi SHTS: A solar-powered agricultural system for small-scale farmers that performs essential tasks such as weeding, watering, and fertilising, while providing real-time monitoring of farm conditions through a smartphone app.
Garden-X by Our Lady of Grace SHS: This IoT and solar-powered innovation ensures optimal conditions for seedling production, promoting food security and sustainable farming practices.
Greenhouse Aquaponics System by St. Thomas Aquinas SHS: A project enabling simultaneous vegetable growing and fish farming in small urban spaces.
Irrigation Innovation by Armed Forces SHTS: A solution addressing the labour-intensive irrigation methods used by farmers, reducing crop withering and economic strain.
Auxillium by Fijai SHS: A system that tackles improper fertiliser application, limited soil health data, and lack of access to agricultural information.
After careful deliberation, a panel of six judges meticulously evaluated the projects to determine the winner of the Innovation Challenge.
Prior to the announcement of the Sci-Tech Innovation Challenge results, awards were presented to schools that participated in the Exhibition:
Best Innovators Under 15 Award: New Gbawe Experimental, for their low-cost teaching aid for biological sciences.
Most Innovative Project Award: Obuasi SHTS, for their locally manufactured dialysis machine.
Dr Lucy Opoku-Agyemang, a member of the judging panel, explained the criteria used to assess the projects. She also expressed admiration for the eloquence and technical proficiency of the participants, particularly praising St Xavier Basic School for their innovative solar panel solution.
The rankings of the participating schools were as follows:
10th: Fijai SHS (193 points), participating for the first time.
9th: Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion SHS (225 points).
8th: St. Thomas Aquinas SHS (241 points).
7th: PRESEC-Legon (243 points).
6th: Bosomtwe STEM Girls SHS (268.5 points).
5th: Armed Forces SHTS (282.5 points), another first-time participant.
4th: Sunyani SHS (298 points).
3rd: Ghana National College (342 points).
2nd: Our Lady of Grace SHS (345 points).
Ultimately, the defending champions, Obuasi SHTS, emerged victorious with 375.5 points, cementing their legacy as trailblazers in STEM innovation by securing their third consecutive win.
This year’s festival not only celebrated creativity but also reaffirmed the importance of empowering the next generation to drive meaningful change through science and technology.
The 2024 edition of the STEM Festival is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by Pepsodent, Jupay, Bel Beverages, YFM and GTP.