Bottozah Bubune Wins Ms. Geek Ghana 2024

Miss Bottozah Biana Bubune – a 21-year-old University of Mines and Technology student in level 300 has emerged as the winner of the 2024 edition of the Ms. Geek Ghana Competition in a keenly contested and showcasing of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) skills to solve and address significant issues in society.

Biana Bubune won the competition over nine other competitors in the final race and 66 applicants from girls aged 13 to 21 years – reflecting a growing interest in technology among young Ghanaian women.

Bottozah’s project utilizes IoT-connected seismic sensors and data analytics to monitor illegal mining activities in remote areas. Her mobile application ensures real-time data transmission and addresses the issue of limited internet connectivity in other regions, providing a robust solution to combat illegal mining and its environmental impact.

Bottozah Biana Bubune received a cash prize of 10000 Ghana Cedis and a fully paid trip to participate in the Ms. Geek Africa contest, scheduled for 2025 in Rwanda which is expected to provide an opportunity to allow Bubune showcase her project on a continental stage, competing with other brilliant minds from across Africa.

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Minister responsible for Ghana’s Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful speaking at the event encouraged the young girls to keep learning which she explained would enable them to develop more innovative methods and skills to solve societal problems.

“I want to commend all our talented selected ten finalists, you have already achieved so much by reaching this stage of the competition, I salute you. Your dedication, late nights of coding, and innovative ideas are the building blocks of progress. Your projects and ideas have impressed us; you should be incredibly proud of your accomplishments. Whether you win today or not, remember that your impact extends beyond this stage. This is just the beginning of your journey.

She added, “The skills and experiences you have gained will serve you well in your future endeavours. As you move forward, I encourage you to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Embrace challenges, seek out new opportunities, and never stop learning. Your passion and determination will be the driving force behind your success. Keep using ICT to solve societal challenges. Each line of code and each algorithm contributes to a better world.”

Sponsors Acknowledgement

The sector minister further acknowledged sponsors who have contributed to the success of the event and shaping the life of the young girls for future growth.

“I wish to acknowledge our benevolent sponsors for their support. Your dedication towards investing in the dreams of these young girls makes you our unsung heroes behind the Ms. Geek Ghana competition. Your commitment to this cause has made this event a success. I take this opportunity to express our gratitude and call for even more support to extend our reach as we continue to empower and uplift our girls across the country.”

Other Winners

A final year student of Aburi Girls Senior High School, Adelaide Mantey, placed second with her “Smart Agriculture System” which seeks to address the challenges of climate change and aims to improve crop yields.

She also received GH¢5,000, a laptop and an opportunity from the ministry to develop her concept into a prototype.

A twenty-year-old student of the University of Ghana, Leticia Makafui Ahiamadzi, placed third and received cash amount of GH¢4,500.

Leticia’s project focuses on digitising the environment using web-based data collection system, information systems, remote sensing, and web platforms like OpenStreetMap to collect and analyse data on environmental risks.

A Junior High School student from the Greater Accra Region, Mensura Abdallah, also placed fourth with her concept ‘MyHealthQuest-MHQ’, which is an internet-based mobile app that provides 24/7 healthcare services to registered users.

About MS Geek Ghana Competition

In 2019, the Ministry of Communications adopted the Ms. Geek Africa concept and organized the first Ms. Geek Ghana Competition where eligible young ladies submitted concepts aimed at solving everyday community problems through technological innovations in the Ghanaian society.

The overall winner of Ms. Geek Ghana 2019, Ms. Selasi Ama Domi-Kuwornu developed an Electronic Pilfering in Mobile Money (Kasa-Cash System) concept, an innovative solution which seeks to protect Ghanaians especially the underprivileged who are illiterate and were defrauded by close associates whilst using their mobile money applications.

The competition is aimed at inspiring more girls into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to enable them to contribute meaningfully to solving the challenges confronting the country.