Africa has workable technological innovations to solve its challenges – Chinery Hesse

Businesses and corporate institutions in the country have been urged to look within the continent for solid, workable technological innovations. Founder of Soft Tribe, Herman Chinery Hesse also remarked that the reliance on foreign technologies would not necessarily guarantee success. He was speaking at a roundtable discussion on the topic: “Investing in Home Grown Innovation: Opportunities for Ghanaians.” Mr. Chinery-Hesse said the continent with its peculiar circumstances offers technology innovators a unique ability to provide innovative solutions that businesses require and need to leapfrog. The discussion also had Pauline Mujawamariya Koelbl, Innovations Prize for Africa Director/African Innovation Foundation Teamster; David Asiamah, Founder, Agro Mindset; and DK Osseo-Asare, Co-Founding Principal Low Design Office & Lecturer at the Ashesi University. The event was part of activities heralding the prestigious Innovative Prize for Africa 2017 (AIP 2017) event scheduled for 17th and 18th July this year, under the patronage of President Akufo-Addo. The roundtable discussion had the objective of creating a network of innovators. It is also meant to mobilize champions for innovation from policy institutions, the private sector, academia and research institutions, international organizations and training institutions. The AIP 2017 scheduled for Accra is the 6th in a row after the initial one in Ethiopia. Mr. Chinery-Hesse was emphatic about the potential of homegrown innovators’ ability to apply technology applications and software to enhance as well as transform the country and the continent at large. Mr. Osseo-Asare recounted his sojourn abroad and later came back to Ghana where he entered into farming. “At 27 I can say that I have adopted several techniques and today we have become a robust African agribusiness ecosystem. This we do by running a production farm which is committed to Ghana’s agriculture to model the private sector engages agriculture, a vibrant agriculture educator program.”

On her part, Pauline Mujawamariya Koelbl said, “Ghana has been a front runner in the technology and innovation race, and today’s panel discussion is a strong indication that its leaders, innovation enablers, and even the diaspora, are aligned in their quest to take homegrown innovation to the next level of activity.” She said they were looking forward to welcoming Ghanaian companies, institutions, investment community to partner with AIF and support Ghana’s pursuit of its innovation development. Professor Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Science, Environment, Technology and Innovation said Ghana is proud to be hosting the Innovation Prize for Africa, saying it will give the country the opportunity to demonstrate to the world what is happening in the area of innovation. “Government will do its part to ensure that public policies are properly implemented to ensure that private businesses thrive within a stable framework,” he added. About 10 Ghanaian innovations and enablers are attending the event and will be jostling for a total of 185,000 dollars in prize money. By Gideon Sackitey/ 3FM 92.7|editors.3news.com