Twenty Ghana-based technology innovators are set to contest for an opportunity to design a centralized database system for entrepreneurs.

Participants from five zones across the country are expected to develop a platform which captures the details of start-up businesses and entrepreneurs across the West African sub-region.

This is an initiative of Ghana Hubs Network.

Start-ups and innovation hubs are essential in driving a country’s economy through the creation of jobs.

However, data in this space is said to be fragmented. 

Most countries in the West African sub-region, including Ghana, lack a centralized database of innovators, entrepreneurs, and innovative spaces. 

Programmes Manager of Ghana Hubs Network, Simon Asare says the centralized system provides uniformity of start-ups to ease accessibility for investors. 

“Hackathon is the first phase of a digitization and capacity strengthening programme. We need data on innovators and entrepreneurs that are part of the Ghana Hubs Network to inform policy and help in programming.

“There are a lot of programmes that are being recycled that’s because there is no data on what a particular innovator has done and activities an innovator is currently doing. But as a budding ecosystem we need data to catalyze the development. The platform would tell us more about the quality and capacity of a specific innovator and build better synergies across the country to give access to market,” he said.

Twenty developers from five zones across the 16 administrative regions of the country are meeting in the Ashanti region to battle it out for the opportunity.

After a one-month zonal competition, the three-day exercise being held at FabHub-Ashanti would witness the selection of the best prototype for the database.

The camping would ensure participating start-ups are equipped with relevant skills to better serve the needs of the hub and the business community.

Some participants are certain their designs would win them the opportunity. 

“The programme has benefited us a lot. I have been able to work on things I’ve never touched before and collaborate and incorporate the ideas of others. We are hundred percent prepared. We are going to shock the stakeholders,” Nana Yaw Emmanuel, a member of the SMART network team, said.