Source: GNA

A team from the Ho Technical University (HTU) won the grand prize at this year’s Hackaton; a collaborative computer programming contest that seeks to challenge the skills of computer engineering, science and technical students in tertiary institutions across the country.

The team won the “Best Product Idea Award” for developing a secured electronic voting system using block chain technology, and was awarded a GH¢3,000.00 cash prize.

The epic competition organized by Hacklab Foundation was held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and attracted the participation of 112 teams from 15 tertiary institutions, which solved challenges using Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and Block Chain technologies.

The project featured entrepreneurs and other industry stakeholders who mentored and shared expertise with the participants.

Mr Carlos Ankora, Head of the Computer Science Department, presenting the prizes to the Management of HTU, said the Institution produced five teams which won a total of four out of a possible eight awards at the event.

He said the feat included the “Most Promising Female Developers Award”, won by the University’s all-female team for developing an environmental monitoring system to help stakeholders deal with issues such as pollution.

Mr Ankora said another team won the “Vodafone Special Award” for a hospital crowd funding programme to streamline donations to health facilities.

Professor Emmanuel Sakyi, Interim Vice Chancellor of the University, said the success of the teams was evident of the “strong collaboration between lectures and students”, as well as a strong team spirit within the departments.

He said the Technical University would continue to ensure that students were equipped with “frugal innovative ideas that can transform society and impact Ghana’s development”.

Professor Sakyi said Information and Communication Technology must be utilized to enhance teaching, learning and research, and commended lecturers for helping elevate the image of the University “despite the institutional and logistical challenges”.

He promised management’s continuous support towards such activities, and asked students to endeavor to win more laurels for the Institution.

A total of GH¢6,800.00 was awarded to the HTU entrants, as well as a free Microsoft training course for the all-female team.