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A device to prevent people falling asleep at the wheel wins the GSTEP Grand Prize

25 January 2024

Seoana Sherry-Brennan

Home » News » A device to prevent people falling asleep at the wheel wins the GSTEP Grand Prize

Team Get Group has been named as the winner of the Ghana Science, Technology and Engineering Prize at an Exhibition and Awards Ceremony, which took place at Accra International Conference Center.

The second edition of the $2.3 million USD Prize, which launched in April 2021, is part of a three-year programme to work with 20,000 Ghanaian Junior High School students, teachers, schools and communities in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions to encourage practical learning and the development of STEM and ICT skills. The programme encourages students to develop entrepreneurial skills and provides them with 21st century skills to make them ready for the job market.

This year’s prize came to a close at an exciting exhibition, which took place yesterday and today at the main hall of the Accra International Conference Center. The students were able to present their ideas to key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, showcasing what they had learnt while taking part in the prize. Among the prestigious guests who came to celebrate the finalists of the GSTEP Challenge were Frema Opare, Chief of Staff and guest of honour, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister for Education.

Get Group, a team from John Wesley Methodist Basic School in the Greater Accra Region, were crowned the winners, with their idea for a device to reduce road accidents caused by motorists who sleep off when driving. The team designed a device that will alert a driver behind the wheel who starts falling asleep.

Narrowly missing out on the crown was 1st runner up, AquaSentry, with their idea for a system that collects and analyses data in aquatic environments.

Learn more about the runners up below

AquaSentry (1st runner-up)

Aqua Sentry is a team from Services Primary JHS in the Greater Accra Region. The team’s idea for the Challenge is a system that collects and analyses data in aquatic environments.

The system, using sensors, will collect data in real time and compare it with predetermined thresholds for impurities. The system will also send prompts to monitoring stations if impurities are detected above acceptable levels.
The Light Bearers (2nd runners-up)

The Light Bearers is a team from El-Ntiaddo School Complex – Abaam School in the Eastern Region. The team will develop solar security street lights, which will be given to the Abaam community.

The lights can be used when there is an outage to serve their community. It will have added security features that will give footage of criminal activity in the community.
The Awesome Medics (Excellence in Applied Science)

The Awesome Medics is a team from Uaddara Basic School in the Ashanti region. The team will be developing a PreTerm Trio – Artificial Mum (PTT- AM) System to support the lives of premature babies.

The three – chambered system would accommodate three premature babies at a time and can be powered by hydroelectric power, solar panels, a windmill and biogas.

The renewable energy source that would power the system would enable it to be used in areas without electricity. Materials from the local environment (environmentally friendly) would be used to manufacture the system, thereby reducing the cost of the system.
Team Ambitious (Most Innovative Idea)

Team Ambitious is from Sankubenase R/C basic school in the Eastern Region.

The team will be developing a smart check device, a device used to ensure that motorcyclists have all protective gear on before taking off.

The team wants to protect motorcyclists and reduce deaths from road accidents.
Brainy Badgers (Best Pitch)

Brainy Badgers is from Nel Educational Complex School in the Ashanti Region. The team wants to explore the benefits and feasibility of using plastic waste in road construction in Ghana.

The team is going to help reduce plastic waste in Ghana through an innovative waste management practice and create a more sustainable and eco-friendly road construction process in Ghana. The team believes this will help improve the durability and lifespan of roads in Ghana.

Congratulations to all of the fantastic teams who took part, the innovative ideas which were developed as part of the prize were so impressive and inspirational.