Ursula Owusu-Ekuful addressing the guests at the launch
The Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has launched the maiden edition of the ‘Ms Geek Ghana’ competition with a call on women and girls pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers to reorient themselves to become main drivers of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sectors.
This, she said, was possible through the development of technologically-oriented solutions that would address the needs of societies.
It was for that reason that the minister, who was speaking in Accra on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, urged all young females with STEM background to participate in the competition intended to harness their STEM skills.
Besides, the competition seeks to encourage more teenage girls to take up STEM courses with the aim of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Young Ghanaian females — between the ages of 13 and 25 — are required to develop and submit technological innovations that will solve challenges in the country before November 10, 2019 deadline.
Initial entries will be assessed and shortlisted by ICT Hubs across the country where shortlisted applicants will participate in a master-class and consequently present their solutions before a panel in December.
The winner of this year’s edition will represent Ghana at the next Miss Geek Africa, while the top three finalists will receive business support, cash prizes, among others.
Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful called on interested parties and stakeholders especially technology companies to partner with the ministry to help motivate participants.
She indicated that the competition was in line with activities under the Girls-In-ICT programme, which is an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that has been adopted by states to empower girls and young women in ICT.
She announced the decision of the ministry to shift from organising girls in ICT programme on an annual to a biannual basis due to immense interest generated by the initiative.
“… The next event is scheduled to take place in Cape Coast in November, with the training of trainers that started this week,” she said.
Also present at the launch was the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) Administrator, Abraham Kofi Asante, and two deputy Ministers of Communications, George Andah and Vincent Odotei Sowah.
By Issah Mohammed