CAPE COAST–On Saturday October 7^th2017, Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) has emerged winners of the Autonomous Rescue Challenge (ARC) Robotics Champions in an action packed robotics competition held at Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast.

Arguably, GSTS is a pioneering school for Robotics education in Ghana but has in recent years been absent from various national competitions. It announced its return to the competitive scene with a bang,when it won in similar fashion, a zonal meet in Cape Coast last year.

This year, they returned to cement their position asatop robotics school with a spectacular performance at the South–West Zonal Competition.

The Autonomous Rescue Challenge is one of two challenges organized by the Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation themed Robotic inspired Science Education (RiSE) Competitionswith support and sponsorship from groups including the United States Embassy. 

Like all robotics competitions, the ARC comes with a specific challenge. In this competition, teams are supposed to design, build and program a robot to simulate a rescue operation. 

The team that completes an assigned course (which could be full of surprises) in the shortest possible time wins. The teams begin with trial runs before the actual competition that consists of three competitive rounds. 

In practical terms, this kind of activity with robots would be used by emergency workers in rescuing people from a burning building, a collapsed mine, after an earthquake or in situations where human life may be at risk. 

For each member to qualify for a medal, their robot is required to undertake the mission in 38 seconds or less. A feat no other school was able to achieve in the whole of Ghana except GSTS, Takoradi.

The RiSE competitions are held in 4 different zones around the country, namely: the Northern Zone, Middle Belt, South-Eastern Zone and the South-Western Zone. School like Prempeh College, Opoku Ware SHS, St. James SHS, Sunyani SHS and Presec-Legon competed in some of these zones. A team from any of the zones that finishes with the best time wins the National Championship.

GSTS, competed in the South Western Zone with teams from Wesley Girls High School, Archbishop Porters Girl High School, St. Augustine’s College, Apam Senior High School and Tarkwa Senior High School. 

GIANTBOT 1: GOLD MEDALISTS IN ARC AT RiSE 2017

This year the South-Western Zone was the last to compete and GSTS announced their intentions early by fielding three teams GIANTBOT 1, GIANTBOT2, and GIANTBOT 3. 

After a shaky start by two of their lead teams GIANTBOT1 and GIANTBOT 2, it was evident by the second round that, it is no coincidence that the boys from Takoradi have and continue to produce some of the best scientific and technical minds in the country. 

It was obvious that the GSTS teams were in top form. At the end of a thrilling and nerve-racking day, GIANTBOTS 1, 3 and 2 swept the podium with record times of 25.25 secs, 26.63 secs and 27.44 secs respectively to win Gold, Silver and Bronze. 

The team that came closest was from Archbishop Bishop Porters Girls School, Takoradi that finished with 46.6 secs to place fourth. 

All the GIANTBOTS teams recorded times better than any recorded at the various zonal competitions making GSTS without any doubt, the National ARC Champions for 2017.

GIANTBOT 3: SILVER MEDALISTS IN ARC AT RiSE 2017

According to Gt. Henry Kwaku Boafo ’80 – (Organizer and Coach, Alumnus and Research Fellow at KNUST), “with the necessary support and encouragement, GSTS and all Ghanaian students can compete at the highest levels in technological innovation”. 

He encouraged Giants to join the GAA and work together to bring back extracurricular activities to the campus. “Learning does not take place only in the classroom, for GSTS we have no choice, we were founded to provide the technical foundation for this country and going into robotics is only natural for us”.

GIANTBOT 2: BRONZE MEDALISTS IN ARC AT RiSE 2017

The GSTS team is supported by Giants (the title for alumni of the school) and the GSTS Alumni Association (GAA). In fact, their coaching team is made up of a Giantteacher assisted by other Giants.

GSTS was represented by the following students and coaches.

GIANTBOT 1

1.         Kelvin OduroAboagye                    F2      

2.         Justice OseiBoadu                          F3      

3.         Martin Binder                                   F2

4.         Jesse Amemor                                F2

5.         Onesimus Graves-Sampson           F2      

6.         EkowAdomKwakye                         F2

Coach: Gt. Henry KwakuBoafo

GIANTBOT 2

1.         Joshua Whajah                                F3      

2.         JossiahWhajah                                F3      

3.         Benjamin Judah Impraim               F3      

4.         Emmanuel Akakpo                          F3

5.      Papa AdjeiBudu-Kumi                       F3

6.         Godwin Nkuah                                 F3

Coach : Gt. Joe Mensah

GIANTBOT 3

1.         Godbert Maclean Mason                F3      

2.         John Teye                                         F3      

3.         TheophilusFosu                              F3

4.         TheophilusKwofie                           F3 

5.         Justice Nennomah                          F3      

6.         ElshadaiOdeiTanaku                      F3

Coach : Gt. Obed MbrohAmoasi

For more information about GSTS Robotics, the GAA, GSTS, or to make a donation, help with any club, activity or project please contact the Coordinator at the GSTS Alumni Secretariat (Tel: +233 0544479490)or the Headmaster of GSTS (Tel: +233 24 692 0843).

The mission of the GSTS Alumni Association is to foster growth, academic and infrastructure development, as well as student motivation at our alma mater, the Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) in Takoradi.