A group of young Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts have developed a digital software technology dubbed: 'Sanitation Hackathon' to address environmental challenges in the country.
The technology, which would be used in liquid and solid waste management, was an initiative of the World Bank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR).
The ‘Sanitation Hackathon' was created by software developers, computer programmers, graphic and interface designers to address liquid and solid waste problems in the country.
In a competition that saw a group of 30 young ICT experts vying to create a sanitation technology, team “Nsuo†emerged winners and received $5,000 package, followed by “Beamers Groupâ€, with $3,000 and Sani-GH, $2,000 respectively.
Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources in a speech read for her by the Chief Director, Mr Joseph Obeng Poku, urged the young ICT experts not to rest on their oars but rather build on their achievements.
Mrs Dapaah said a survey by mobile phone companies indicated that Ghana is one of Africa’s largest mobile te chnology markets with subscribers being active internet users.
“Technology is playing a significant role in addressing some of the developmental challenges, that was why the Ministry had put in place the necessary frameworks and initiatives to improve solid waste management in the country,†she said.
She expressed the government’s gratitude to the World Bank and the Hackathon technology partners for their expert advice to bring the desired change.
The Minister urged the media to support the Ministry to reach the people with the message and bring about change in the attitudes, behaviours, and practices, which are the bane of the sanitation challenges facing the country.
Mr George Asiedu, the Coordinator and Consultant of the Greater Accra Metropolitan and Water and Sanitation Project (GAMA-SWP) said the Ministry was pursuing the one house one toilet agenda to eliminate open defecation.
He said the GAMA-SWP has also constructed over 13,500 household toilet facilities to support the agenda, adding that, the project would also see the construction of an additional 7,000 toilet by the middle of 2019, as well as 406 toilets in 246 schools across Greater Accra to eradicate open defecation.
“We will need to do things differently if we have to achieve sanitation and water for all by 2030. The required enabling environment now exists and therefore we must make all effort to increase the current low access to sanitation,†he said.
He gave the assurance that the World Bank would look at the new technology developed by the young ICT experts and the outcome of its application.
The young ICT experts expressed their gratitude to the Minister for organising the Sanitation Hackathon to address the environmental challenges in the country.
, December 11, 2019