Sogakope: Sixty student teams from four regions have been inducted into the finalist stage of the 2026 Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Challenge Prize (GSTEP), a national competition aimed at promoting innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The teams, drawn from the Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti, and Volta regions, were inducted during regional ceremonies held between February and early March.
According to Ghana News Agency, 10 teams were inducted in Greater Accra, 16 in the Eastern Region, 23 in the Ashanti Region, and 11 in the Volta Region. The finalists emerged from an initial pool of 120 semi-finalist teams who were required to submit a Business and Team Canvas, a working Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and a five-minute pitch video presenting their innovations. These submissions were assessed based on technical promise, clarity of concept, and potential for real-world impact, with the best-performing teams advancing to the finalist stage.
The finalist phase, running from March to May 2026, will see the teams refining their ideas, developing more advanced prototypes, and gaining exposure to real-world applications of STEM and entrepreneurial thinking. Each finalist team will receive seed funding from the GSTEP Consortium to acquire tools and materials needed to build their final prototypes. The teams will also undertake industry visits to academic institutions and companies to observe how STEM concepts are applied in real-life settings and explore how their innovations could contribute to Ghana's development.
During the Volta Regional induction ceremony, Ms. Rosemary Enefa Ahiadeke, the region's STMIE Coordinator, encouraged the students to make the most of the opportunity. She emphasized that STEM is the future and commended the teachers and coordinators for their support.
Students who participated in the induction ceremonies also received practical training in intellectual property, entrepreneurship, finance and budgeting, business planning, and marketing and communications. These sessions highlighted the importance of protecting innovative ideas, planning for sustainability, and communicating clearly about the problems their solutions aim to address.
Teachers, STEM coordinators, coaches, and mentors also took part in capacity-building sessions focused on project management, leadership, and emotional intelligence to better support the student teams. Mr. Daniel Ewusi Essel, who leads STEM Curriculum and Training at the Practical Education Network, called for increased support to expand the programme and highlighted the potential the students are showing.
The Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Challenge Prize is designed to nurture young innovators by encouraging students to identify problems in their communities and develop practical solutions through STEM. The finalist teams will continue refining their prototypes with the support of mentors, coaches, and their communities ahead of the final exhibition and awards ceremony later this year.