‘Tekyerema Pa Hackathon’ advances Ghana’s 1 Million Coders agenda with AI solutions for speech disabilities

The government’s digital transformation agenda gained momentum over the weekend. The Tekyerema Pa Hackathon concluded, showcasing innovative solutions for speech disabilities using AI.

Forty-eight applications were submitted from tertiary institutions in Ghana and beyond. Five teams advanced to the finals, focusing on AI tools for individuals with speech impairments. This event is part of a broader initiative to train one million coders and develop new AI engineers.

Sam Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, attended the event. He emphasized the strategic vision behind the Hackathon. “We’re training AI engineers to reconfigure existing tools using large language models,” he said.

He also highlighted AI's potential in agriculture. “AI tools can help farmers improve yields or diagnose crop issues,” he explained. However, many tools are only available in English.

He noted that local solutions are needed for non-English speakers. For example, a Dagbani-speaking farmer may need voice-activated assistance tailored to her language.

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo chaired the grand finale as Vice Chancellor. She praised students’ creativity and stressed leveraging AI for social change. “The Hackathon shows how AI can solve societal challenges,” she stated.

She pointed out issues faced by those with communication impairments, such as stigma and lack of resources. Professor Isaac Wiafe shared insights about competition diversity and structure.

“Forty-eight teams from 28 universities participated, including one team from Kenya,” he said. Each team included at least one female member and one person with speech impairment.

Participating institutions included the University of Ghana and KNUST among others. The Hackathon reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to inclusive innovation and AI development.

It serves as an example of how targeted initiatives can foster talent and solve real-world problems while ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.