A Round-up of a Very Eventful 2012

The year 2012 is just under two hours of receding into history. Since it's been a loaded year, it would be improper to let it pass without a recap of notable events or activities undertaken. In no particular order, here are some highlights of my 2012:

Vodafone Broadband in Keta

The year started on a good note. It was finally possible for individuals and organisations in my town to sign up for Vodafone's broadband Internet service. I quickly applied and by February, I started surfing to my heart's delight. My joy's been cut off twice due to the theft of the copper cables that delivered last-mile connectivity. As I blog, the service has not be restored after the second interruption. Oh! :(.

Diplo Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme

I got a scholarship from Diplo Foundation to pursue an online course in Introduction to Internet Governance, as part of their Capacity Building Programme for citizens of developing countries. Through the course, I got a better appreciation of the power of the Internet as a tool for social change and the different positions on how the global platform should be managed. It was also a great opportunity to experience online education first hand and to network with other emerging African leaders in field. My appreciation goes to Godfred Ahuma, who encouraged me to apply, Stephen Nii Adjei Sowah, one of my Ghanaian coursemates, Marsha Guthrie, my tutor, Stephanie Psaila and Ginger Paque for making the experience worthwhile for me. It was unfortunate though that we could not organise Ghana Internet Governance Forum in 2012. I hope that changes next year

Ghana Decides

If you've been following this blog closely, you'd notice that a lot has been said about BloggingGhana's Ghana Decides project and its drive to engender youth engagement in Ghana's civic affairs. Through various campaigns, workshops and discussions, we captured the diverse needs of youth groups, disability self-help groups, women candidates and other voices often drowned out in our politics. One beautiful thing about Ghana Decides project is that aside the core team, Ghana's online community contributed actively and this crystallised its success. Today, we have a machine that could morph into an accountability and community mobilisation initiative. Whatever, it becomes it's all back to the community! 

BlogCamp Ghana

BloggingGhana finally moved the BlogCamp talk to action, and the result was the biggest and most interesting social media event held in Ghana to date. Edward Tagoe and the BlogCamp team's vim was the main propelling force behind this astounding success, as many young Ghanaians for the first time found out how they could make their voices heard through social media. Watch out for BlogCamp 2013.

BarCamp Ghana

GhanaThink Foundation has been organising barcamps in Ghana since 2008, but in 2012 there was a record. Eight barcamps in seven regions. Unprecedented! I attended six of those- Takoradi, Sunyani, Cape Coast, Ho, Tema and Accra. This makes 2012 my most 'barcamped' year. Also, I had the opportunity of introducing some of my students from the Writers and Debaters Club of Keta Senior High Technical School to barcamps, showcasing how the unconference model can inspire learning and encourage creativity among youngsters. Guess what? They got hooked and are now busy planning their own "Junior Camp" as part of their 60th Anniversary SRC week celebration. More Vim!

ICT, Digital Literacy and Education

There were many opportunities to further efforts in this space as ICTs have become increasingly crucial tools for education, business and development. Due to their growing ubiquity, there's no excuse, really, not to take advantage of what they have to offer. Like I've been saying around: "we must use the tools we have to solve the problems we face." And where we don't have these tools, we have to strive to make them. Here are a few programmes that I was involved in, one way or the other:

• Coders4Africa/PAT Ghana Python in Action Demo
• AITI-KACE Innovation Week Discussion on Open Learning
• ICT4D.at In-Service Training for Teachers in Digital Literacy
• Ghana Educators Network
• Global Lab Ghana
• Ghana Makers
• UNESCO Education For All Global Monitoring Report Ghana Launch

To sum, 2012 has been packed and productive. Let's look forward to the new year, with faith and hope that our plans and dreams will be brought to life. I'm looking forward to a great 2013 and wish the same for you. Happy New Year, Happy New You!

Turning Failure into Success at BarCamp Accra 2012

The BarCamp movement in Ghana gathered steam this year, with seven events spread over Takoradi, Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale, Cape Coast, Ho and Tema. The year's inspiring mix of one-on-one mentoring interactions, breakout sessions, panels and demos will be climaxed this Saturday, 22nd December, 2012 at the Dansoman Campus of Methodist University College of Ghana (MUCG).

Administration block of MUCG. Source: ghanaschoolsnet.com

BarCamp Accra 2012 focuses on "removing fear of failure as a start of success." The notion of failure in business and personal life will be explored and measures needed to bounce back onto the road of success will be shared by selected mentors and resource persons. According to the official press release,

The Accra event will take a national stature with a large number of attendees also expected to be Ghanaians who live abroad. We hope to assemble Accra stakeholders to network, build a supportive enterprising community and partner to build together. We will start with the popular speed mentoring sessions with various young Ghanaian achievers. Selected resource personnel will be sharing and leading discussions on failure, removing the fear of failure and how we can fail our way to success in our newly introduced success sessions. We will have breakout sessions on topics of your choice as usual.  

By all means, head to the BarCamp Accra eventbrite registration page and register now to attend this awesome event.

BarCamp Accra 2012 is organised by GhanaThink Foundation, with support from Methodist University College Ghana, Google Ghana, Ghana Decides, BloggingGhana, MUCG-GDG, Hatua Solutions, Nandimobile, Leti Games, Fienipa,SpyGhana, Ghana News Agency, Modern Ghana, Joy 99.7 FM and CITI FM.

See you on Saturday!

Driving Excellence at BarCamp Tema 2012

Central University College will host the very first BarCamp Ghana event outside a regional capital this Saturday 27th October. At BarCamp Tema 2012, the GhanaThink Foundation will introduce more innovations into the programme and speaker line up. Read more...

BarCamp Tema 2012 is a free networking forum bringing people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Tema, Ghana and beyond. It will take place on October 27, 2012 at the Johnson Kanda block, Central University Campus in Miotso near Tema. The theme for this year is “Vertical mentoring and horizontal inspiration, driving excellence”. This Barcamp hopes to assemble stakeholders to network, build a supportive enterprising community and partner to build together.

The GhanaThink Foundation has successfully organized 17 BarCamps in Ghana. BarCamp Tema 2012 is being organized in conjunction with the Google Group at Central University College. The event will be a showcase of how Ghana’s youth are taking charge of its development and how they can be spurred on to do more. The spotlight will be on demonstrating the power of mentoring and role models and how youth can inspire other youth to drive excellence. There will be a focus on channeling the present energies around entertainment into positive developments and progress for Tema and surrounding areas as well.

The Barcamp will feature multiple user-generated breakout sessions about business, social entrepreneurship, technology and development, alongside topics relevant to the Greater Accra Region and beyond. There will be a speed mentoring session where mentors will give insights and answers to questions from attendees. We are also organizing a start-up bazaar  where young entrepreneurs and innovators can showcase their products and services. Some confirmed mentors and speakers are Linda Quartey, Sheila Bartels-Sam, Fesu Antonia, and DK Osseo-Asare. There will also be a keynote interview with popular Tema-based musicians, D Cryme n Chemphe.

Register/RSVP at the BarCamp Tema eventbrite website (barcamptema12.eventbrite.com) or text "Barcamp Tema [name] [email address] to 1945 through any mobile network. You may also contact the BarCamp Tema team through the eventbrite page for sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, let us know, especially if you have special needs.

BarCamp Tema 2012 is sponsored by Central University College, GhanaThink Foundation, Google Ghana, Nandimobile, Fienipa Group, Hatua Solutions, Samsung Ghana etc. Our media partners are Spy Ghana, Modern Ghana, TNG, and the Ghana News Agency. Join us to move the Greater Accra Region and Ghana forward.

Youth Taking Charge of Development at BarCamp Ho 2012

We welcome the GhanaThink Foundation back to the Volta Region for BarCamp Ho 2012. Organised in collaboration with the Centre for Creative Youth, BarCamp Ho seeks to challenge the youth to take charge of development, to be innovative and to play active roles in national life.

BarCamp Ho will be held tomorrow, 21st September (Founder's Day) at Ho Polytechnic under the theme "Youth Taking Charge of Development". From 8: 00 am to 5 pm, the event will feature many young achievers who have carved niches for themselves in their own fields. They will in turn inspire their colleagues to make a difference in their various fields of endeavour. There will be keynote speeches, mentoring sessions, start-up bazaar, demos, breakout sessions, networking, among others. We will take advantage of Founder's Day to reflect on the life of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana.

I can only be grateful to the following personalities for quickly responding to our call to inspire Ghanaian youth in the Volta Region: Francis Asong (VOICE Ghana), Makafui Nyamadi (GCOM Pre-University), Tsonam Akpeloo (Techcom Visions), Florence Toffa (Mobile Web Ghana), Anne Amuzu (Nandimobile), Penelope Sheila Bartels-Sam (inCharge Global), Nehemiah Attigah (Hatua Solutions), Regina Agyare (Soronko Solutions), Alloysius Attah (Farmerline), Maximus Ametorgoh (PopOut) and Eyram Tawia (Leti Games).

BarCamp Ho 2012 follows the 2011 event, themed "Harnessing Local Competencies and Opportunities for Global Impact", held at the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Ho last December. Discussions on that day was focused on developing the strengths of the Volta Region, notably tourism as a means of developing the region.

Join us at Ho Polytechnic by picking your free ticket at the BarCamp Ho Eventbrite registration page. You can also tell your friends to text "BarCamp Ho [Name] [Email Address] to 1945 on any network to register.

Come and let's celebrate inspiring Ghanaian projects like Nandimobile, Farmerline, Leti Games, Sandlanders, inCharge, VOICE Ghana, Ghana Decides, among others. Join us to move Ghana and the Volta Region forward. Follow @BarCampHo on Twitter and "like" BarCamp Ho Facebook page. We'll be posting with #bcho on Twitter and G+.

BarCamp Ho 2012 is sponsored by the Ho Polytechnic, GhanaThink Foundation, Google Ghana, CCY Ghana, VOICE Ghana, Nandimobile, Fienipa Group, etc. Our media partners are US FM, Spy Ghana, Modern Ghana, TNG, myjoyonline and the Ghana News Agency.

Gedeme! Miawoe zɔ!

BarCamp Tamale 2012 Focuses on Development and Sustainable Change

My friends at BarCamp Tamale are putting together their second event. Feedback gathered from Twitter on the first one was very positive. On the whole, it appeared to be an educative event. For Ken, it was an eye-opener. I hope to join them this time. Watch out for the #bcTamale tag on Twitter!

Shot taken at first BarCamp Tamale. Source: http://kenkubuga.blogspot.com

BarCamp Tamale Press Release

Here comes the 15th Barcamp in Ghana and 2nd in Tamale! BarCamp Tamale 2012 is a free networking event bringing people together for a day of discussion, demonstrations and dialogue about Tamale, Northern Ghana and beyond. BarCamp Tamale 2012 follows last year's November 26 event at the Tamale Polytechnic in Tamale, Ghana. This year's edition will be held on July 14 with Tamale Polytechnic. The theme is “Accelerating Development: Key Stakeholders & Priorities for Sustainable Change”. It will build upon local knowledge, expertise and resources in a supportive community for entrepreneurs, change makers, innovators and other leaders in Tamale and the Northern Region.

It will be organized in conjunction with LEAD-Ghana and the Tamale Google Technology User Group (GTUG). This Barcamp will focus on creating more awareness about the uses of technology; build knowledge on how to foster innovation in and around Tamale; and increase visibility through tourism, (re)branding and online content creation. 

BarCamp Tamale 2012 will feature multiple sessions on Northern Ghana’s development agenda and the recently launched Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, businesses, social entrepreneurship, technology tools and products, as well as breakout sessions on topics relevant to the Northern region and beyond. Like all Barcamps, there will be user-generated sessions and discussions where attendees get to set the agenda and topics for the day. Local experts will share knowledge on different technologies, and successful entrepreneurs and innovators will share their stories to serve as role models for participants. 

Register/RSVP today at the BarCamp Tamale eventbrite website. You can also register by sending "Barcamp Tamale, Your Name, Your Email Address" to 1945 on all mobile networks.  You may also contact the BarCamp Tamale team through this website for sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, let us know, especially if you have special needs. BarCamp Tamale 2012 is sponsored by the GhanaThink Foundation, Tamale Polytechnic, LEAD-Ghana, Nandimobile, Tamale-GTUG, Fienipa Group, Savana Signatures and Northern Ghana Innovators. Our media partners are Bishara Radio, SpyGhana and Radio Justice.

BarCamp Ghana 2011: Getting Ahead Through Partnerships and Collaboration

The "mother" of all BarCamps in Ghana will be taking place live at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT this Saturday. Join us in person or via Twitter and Facebook!

After Barcamps in Kumasi, Cape Coast, Tamale and Ho, the movement is in Accra this Saturday for Barcamp Ghana. Barcamp Ghana 2011 will take place on December 17, 2011 at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT. The theme is “Establishing Partnerships to transform dreams into action-based projects: Lessons from Mentors”. This Barcamp will concentrate on sharing, inspiring and creating stories about building partnership with attendant mentorship to create successful Ghanaian projects and businesses. This will be the 11th Barcamp in Ghana, back to the venue where it all started in December 2008.

BarCamp Ghana 2011 will feature a speed mentoring session with mentors like Bernard Avle, Kofi Akpabli, Albert Ocran, Sheila Bartels-Sam, Lionel Dosoo, Leila Djansi, Carl Ashie, Kofi Dadzie, Maximus Ametorgoh, Alex Adjei-Bram, Nana Awere Damoah, Sefakor Gbewonyo, Alfred Cran-Mensah, amongst others.

As always, there will be many breakout sessions organized by you, valuable networking and a celebration of Ghanaian ingenuity and innovation. Register/RSVP today at the BarCamp Ghana eventbrite website. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, email us at info@barcampghana.org, especially if you have special needs. 

BarCamp Ghana 2011 is sponsored by the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, Mobile Web Ghana, GhanaThink Foundation, Fienipa Group, Spot One Global, and Nandimobile. Our media partners are ModernGhana.com, Citi 97.3 FM, and Radio Univers. BarCamp Ghana -www.barcampghana.org – info at barcampghana.org

BarCamp Ho: Harnessing Local Competencies and Opportunities for Global Impact

BarCamp Ho 2011 is a free networking event to bring people together for a day of discussion, demonstrations and dialogue about Ho, the Volta Region and beyond. BarCamp Ho 2011 will take place on December 3, 2011 at Centre for National Culture in Ho, Ghana. The theme is “Harnessing local competencies and opportunities for global impact”. The first Barcamp Ho event will create a supportive community for entrepreneurs, change makers, innovators and other leaders in Ho and the Volta Region. Ho is well primed to support development in Ghana and Togo as well.
 

The BarCamp Ghana team has successfully organized eight BarCamps in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Cape Coast and Tamale, resulting in a network of Ghanaian doers, entrepreneurs and change makers. Barcamp Ho 2011 is organized by the GhanaThink Foundation in conjunction with a local team of Volta Region-based change makers. This BarCamp will focus on networking like-minded entrepreneurial and change making Ho residents to partner in adding value to their businesses and community. It will also promote successful young entrepreneurs from the region, further inspiring similar activity in attendees and birthing new businesses, initiatives and projects.

Like all Barcamps, there will be user-generated sessions and discussions where attendees get to set the agenda and topics for the day. BarCamp Ho 2011 will have a panel discussion on tourism featuring Donald Diaba (iRokko Concepts), Eli Aidam (Centre for Creative Youth and Centre for National Culture) and Eric Tackie Tawiah (Ghana Tourist Board). There shall also be sessions about starting up businesses, social media, blogging and topics relevant to the Volta region and beyond.. The social media sessions will be led by Mac-Jordan Degadjor. Leti Games CEO Eyram Tawia will share his story of building one of Africa's premier gaming companies. Alex Titiloye Ojo, a recent award winner at the World Youth Summit Awards, will also be there to share his insights. 

The unmistakable Wli water fall is one of the many tourist attractions in the Volta Region. How do we project it better?

Register/RSVP today at the BarCamp Ho eventbrite website. You may also contact the BarCamp Ho team through this website for sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, let us know, especially if you have special needs. You may also register by sending "Barcamp Ho [name] [email address] to 1945 on all networks.

BarCamp Ho 2011 is sponsored by the GhanaThink Foundation, Google, Centre for National Culture, Volta Regional Trade & Investment Fair, Fienipa Group, Nandimobile, iROKKO Concepts, Leti Games, GhanaBlogging,Cenre for Creative Youth, etc. Our media partners are ModernGhana.com.

Register at http://barcampHo11.eventbrite.com/
See you there!

Contact: http://barcampghana.org/contact or barcamp at ghanathink.org

Taking The BarCamp Fever to the Regions of Ghana

Section from BarCamp Accra 2010

BarCamps the world over are space for idea-sharing, networking and fun. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may be abreast with what barcamps in Ghana are all about.

For starters, a barcamp is simply a conference whose content is mostly user-generated (so we call it an un-conference). That is attendees are allowed to dictate what should be discussed and in what way it should be discussed. This allows for highly relevant, engaging and focused discussions relevant to local communities. The result is that the passion, fervour and "vim" flowing from such discussions push people to come out with many projects, in different sectors, ranging from regular businesses, through social enterprises to building intellectual communities.

And so it is with BarCamp Ghana. I've learnt lots of valuable lessons participating in and volunteering for BarCamps in Ghana. Since 2008, BarCamp Ghana has been nurturing the nation's young minds, preparing them for the future with the knowledge of skills they should be learning, networks they should be building and planting the seed of firm believe that they can thrive and succeed in Ghana despite the prevailing odds. That's the spirit of BarCamp Ghana. Some prefer to sum it up with one word. VIM! That vim is evident in all these BarCamp gatherings, as the creme de la creme of young changemakers are always represented.

One focus of GhanaThink, the organisation behind barcamps in Ghana, for the last two years, has been to spread the barcamp love nationwide. Last year barcamps were held in Accra, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi. This year even more towns are joining the BarCamp train. Kumasi and Cape Coast have already hosted superb events. Tamale and Ho will be debuting their respective regional barcamps ahead of the grand party, BarCamp Ghana 2011, in Accra. Here are some quick details:

Championing local voices for development through technology and ICT

Focus: Northern region, development, NGO, community, technology
Venue: Tamale Polytechnic
Date: 26th November, 2011
Registration: Evenbrite page. OR Text "Barcamp Tamale [your_name] [your_email_address] to 1945
Connect: Facebook, Twitter, Google +

Harnessing local competencies and opportunities for global impact

Focus: Volta region, entrepreneurship, tourism, social media, local content
Venue: Centre for National Culture, Ho
Date: 3rd December, 2011
Registration: Eventbrite page OR Text "Barcamp Ho [your_name] [your_email_address] to 1945
Connect: Facebook, Twitter, Google +

Try to make it to these events if you get a chance and like the BarCamp Ghana page on Facebook! 

BarCamp Ghana 2010

I attended BarCamp Ghana 2010 last Saturday,18th December, hosted by Ashesi University College. In true barcamp fashion, there were event enabled tremendous learning and networking opportunities, while showcasing a special urge by Ghana's youth to "create dreams, work smart and shape the future." This post explores five high points made more evident by the just ended BarCamp.

Focus on breakout sessions
The idea of an exclusive "breakout session barcamp" was experimented, cutting out keynote and panel discussions. Subject matter experts were integrated into the various breakout sessions to enrich discussions in those groups. I attended breakout sessions on citizen journalism, sustainable development and blogging. All of these sessions were intense and engaging, allowing for cross-fertilisation of diverse opinions and ideas. One session I missed was "telling the African story", whose key discussion point was whether there was really something like a positive African story or not. Fellow blogger Nana Fredua Agyeman has written an emotional post on the subject.

Farida Bedwei: succeeding in the face of the most-daunting adversity
When we encounter difficulties and problems, we often lose steam and are thrown off the course of our goals. We succumb to temporary setbacks, while wishing adversity was never part of the equation. The same cannot be said of Farida Bedwei, software engineer and writer. She is joyously making the most of life amidst physical, social and psychological exertions of cerebral palsy, a medical condition that leaves many throwing their hands up in despair. Farida facilitated breakout sessions on women in ICT and neurological disorders at #bcghana; her story challenges all of us to rise above whatever challenges lie in our path and live life to our optimal ability.

Blogging and social media on the rise
The blogging breakout session, coordinated by Oluniyi Ajao of GhanaBlogging, unsurprisingly seemed to be the toast of this year's barcamp as it recorded probably the highest attendance. Blogging success tips from Oluniyi, MacJordan, Nii Ayertey, Ebenezer Gwumah, Nina Chachu and others were shared. Design, consistency, relevance and focus are some of things needed to be successful in blogging. One thing I picked up though was "Yes, you can make money from blogging in Ghana", and that is truly heartwarming. The high turnout shows jut how important individuals in Ghana is attaching to social media. Local companies have no choice but to follow suit shortly. Perhaps an exclusive blogging and social media event/workshop should be put together soon to showcase what social media can do for all aspects of our lives.

Sustainable development is the way to go for Africa
D.K. Osseo-Asare's presentation of the Anam City project, Anambra State, Nigeria, was truly brilliant, and brought to the fore key questions surrounding the notion of a perfect city and how humans and their environment can live side by side. Deploying the Rurban model, which promotes a balance between ecology, technology and sociology in community building, Anam City is set to inspire similar schemes in Africa and the world at large if it works the way D.K. and his colleagues.

Virtual connections extends to real life and real life goes virtual
Repping at BarCamp Ghana were most of the active bloggers and tweeps on the local social scene. The list is exhaustive but linking up with the likes of @ebengwumah, @Delalorm, MissYayraTayDB, @kafuiday, @niyyie, @ttaaggooee, @MacJordan, @nii_ayertey, @donaldiaba, @nanawireko, @jefferyboye, @Abocco, @florencetoffa, @ajoaofoe, @dotkwame, @osarpong, @freduagyeman, @reggesegge, @DaisyAmmaBaffoe, @niiadjeisowah, @D41XY and @iJojoo is definitely worth the time!

The mood whipped up by this year's BarCamp is one of optimism, motivation and action. One can only understand the positive effects of these events through participation. This tweet from @reggesegge sums it all up:

There's somethg abt these #bcGhana events. If u haven't attended any, u'll not understand é +ve 'transformations/resolutions' I'm talkng abtless than a minute ago via HootSuiteTeresa E A Lemaire
reggesegge

BarCamp Ghana Goes to Ashesi

BarCamp Ghana, the unconference that's been inspiring entrepreneurship and innovation among Ghana's youth, will be held at Accra's Ashesi University this Saturday, 18th December, 2010.



This year's event comes off after successful regional BarCamps at Kumasi, Accra and Takoradi. The day's deliberations will be under the theme "Create dreams, work smart and shape the future." BarCamp Ghana therefore puts together all the positive discussions on youth entrepreneurship and innovation we've been having since September.

Ashesi promises to be a fitting host for BarCamp Ghana as they're focused on raising entrepreneurial leaders of the highest quality for Africa and the world. Ashesi are ardent BarCamp champions- they've demonstrated this through active involvement of their students and faculty, and by sponsoring the event.

The structure of this year's BarCamp Ghana takes a break from previous years' format, with more emphasis on breakout sessions, to unleash the true BarCamp experience. Resource persons have been drawn from across industry segments to enrich the discussions. They include Bernard Avle of CITI 97.3 FM, Leila Djansi of Turning Point Pictures, Oluniyi Ajao Solomon Adu-Atefoe of Agric Development Bank, Golda Addo of Energy Solutions Froundation, Mohamed Amin Adam of Publish What You Pay, Philip Gamey of Web & Software, DK Osseo-Asare of Anamcity, Paul Tenejou of ROI-MOB-Lang and Ronke Ampiah of Smiles for Christmas.

To register to attend, please visit the registration page at eventbrite. Also contact the BarCamp team through the same page if you're interested in sponsoring or organising a breakout session.

BarCamp Ghana 2010 is proudly sponsored by Ashesi University College, Vodafone Ghana, Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, GhanaThink Foundation, Google Ghana, Mobile Web Ghana, Fie.nipa, Worldwide Web Foudnation and NandiMobile. Our media sponsors are CITI FM, Radio Univers, ModernGhana, GhanaBlogging, Sunlight Radio America, The New Ghanaian and Skyy Digital. Customer support and feedback services can be accessed via 020-1500033. Be there!

Update on Barcamps in Ghana

We're going to have a whole season of bar camps in Ghana this year, as two regional barcamps will be held in addition to the traditional BarCamp Ghana event.

BarCamp Kumasi 2010

The barcamp train will make its first stop in the garden city on the campus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on 18th September, 2010. Deliberations will be held under the theme: "Collaboration-the key for opportunity and development." Registration is ongoing, do well to register, and keep yourself updated by following @barcampkumasi on Twitter and liking the BarCamp Kumasi page on Facebook. Read the full press release from the BarCamp Kumasi team.

BarCamp Accra 2010

The Accra regional barcamp, attempts to address the nagging twin problems of poverty and unemployment in Ghana, is appropriately themed "Creating wealth and employment in a challenging environment." Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, MEST, will be hosts on 2nd October. Here's a press statement from the organising team. However, for real time updates on developments, like the BarCamp Accra fan page on Facebook and follow @barcampaccra on Twitter. Don't forget to register!

BarCamp Ghana 2010
A grand BarCamp Ghana event will round off the two regional events, and hopefully ride on the momentum that'll be generated by BarCamp Kumasi and BarCamp Accra. Theme, venue and date are yet to be announced. For more information follow @barcampghana on Twitter or join the BarCamp Ghana Facebook Page.

Thoughts on TEDxYouthInspire

TEDxYouthInspire, the first TEDx event targeted exclusively at African youth is underway at Ghana’s Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT. Under the theme, a good head and a good heart, culled from one of iconic former South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiographies, the conference promises to be an inspiring as well as awakening experience for the over 100 young invited attendees, and thousands more who will be following events closely through the power of the world wide web.

A conference of this nature, at this point in African history, holds some significance as many African countries mark their 50th milestone of liberation from the shackles of colonialism this year. It is therefore imperative for one to reflect on the progress that Africa has made in the space of the past 50 years, specifically examining the lives of today’s African youth as compared to those of their colleagues at the dawn of independence. Armed with the knowledge that overall progress on the continent over the span of the past 50 years has been marginal, perhaps one question then becomes pertinent at TEDxYouthInspire: “In what ways can African youth contribute to the reversion of the retrogression seen on the continent for large periods of its post-independence history?” Indeed, such introspection resonates well with the conference’s theme taken from the book a long walk to freedom.

Apart from its historical significance, the event has the potential to be a life-changing experience for both speakers and attendees. Many of our promising speakers will have their first major public speaking experience and the limelight of the TEDx stage will not only establish them as role models for their contemporaries, but will also open the doors of opportunity wider for them in various aspects of their lives. Event attendees and followers on the other hand will be challenged and motivated by the exploits of their peers, stimulating more creative, entrepreneurial and productive activity among them.

Further, a major topic that is running throughout the day’s deliberations is the role of leadership in the transformative process of the continent. Leadership’s role is instructive because it inspires ideas, strategies, action, discipline, direction, reflection and celebration. Without good leadership, there is no way that we will see the kind of change we want to see happen in Africa. Patrick Awuah, from Ashesi University captures this philosophy rather succinctly in his now renowned TED talk at Arusha, Tanzania. We’re hoping that TEDxYouthInspire will help raise the next generation of African changemakers. As leadership is a prevailing thought of the times, it is by no accident that it ties in nicely with the theme of the last BarCamp Ghana: “leadership for our times-cultivating changemakers.” Submissions from various attendees also attest to the importance of leadership.

TEDxYouthInspire started at 9:00 am and will be running until 6:00 pm. The day is not all about talks as there are other items lined up to engage the attention of young leaders. There is a cultural performance, screening of TED talks and a movie, lunch and plenty of opportunity for interaction. TEDxYouthInspire is being hosted by Google Ghana’s Country Lead Estelle Akofio-Sowah. The speakers are MacJordan Holdbrooks-Degadjor, Shirley Osei Mensah, Esi Yankah, Aboyeji E. Iyinoluwa and Yawa Hansen-Quao. From the rich menu presented, TEDxYouthInspire is proving to be enjoyable, excting, educationally enriching, culturally awakening, socially engaging and technologically revealing. If you're unable to be at KACE-AITI today, you can follow the event live via livestream, twitter and facebook. You wouldn’t want to miss this for anything!