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Madonna School crowned winners of first Inventopia-STEM competition
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Madonna School emerged winners of the maiden Inventopia-STEM (I-STEM) competition organised by M-Hub Technologies to promote creativity, innovation and practical problem-solving skills among basic school pupils.
Pentecost Preparatory School placed second, while Heaven’s Dew Montessori took the third position in the competition, which brought together six schools in Koforidua.
The participating schools were Madonna School, Trinity Royal School, Presbyterian Calvary Academy, Pentecost Preparatory School, Listen Educational Complex and Heaven’s Dew Montessori.
The competition was conducted in four rounds, with the first three focusing on basic questions and answers that tested the pupils’ critical thinking abilities
The final round required contestants to undertake practical projects by coding or building innovative solutions to address real-life challenges.
One of the projects showcased during the competition was a smart motorcycle safety system designed to prevent a motorcycle from starting unless the rider had put on a helmet, an innovation aimed at promoting road safety.
Speaking at the event, the Eastern Regional Manager of M-Hub Technologies, Mr Enoch Kekeli, said the competition, dubbed Inventopia-STEM (I-STEM), sought to encourage pupils to think creatively and develop practical solutions to societal problems.
He noted that many schools focused heavily on theoretical learning, leaving students with little opportunity to apply their knowledge in practical situations.
”We want to spark creativity in students. Most schools focus mainly on theory, but we are now in a technology-driven era where students must be able to apply what they learn to solve real-world problems,” he said.
Mr Kekeli said exposing children to practical STEM education would help nurture critical thinkers, innovators and problem-solvers capable of developing workable solutions and policies in the future.
He stressed that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education was centred on hands-on learning, creative thinking and innovation rather than memorisation.
”If we want a brighter future in this technological age, we need to educate our children to embrace STEM so they can build, design and create solutions that work instead of relying only on theory,” he added.
He expressed the hope that the competition would inspire more schools to incorporate practical STEM education into their teaching to equip learners with the skills needed for the future workforce.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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