The 2026 Eastern Regional Induction, held on 27th February in Koforidua at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, brought together 16 finalist teams for an engaging and insightful start to their journey in the GSTEP Challenge. 

The event focused on laying a strong foundation for innovation, equipping teams with the tools needed to succeed throughout the competition.

From Entrepreneurship, Finance planning to budgeting, intellectual property, Marketing and Communications, STEMPlosion, the sessions were carefully designed to help teams understand the full life cycle of innovation. 

Teams  were encouraged to think strategically about how their ideas can evolve into sustainable solutions that address real community challenges. In the intellectual property session, teams learned how to protect innovations and understand ownership frameworks. In communications, teams developed skills in audience targeting and storytelling. These sessions highlighted how presenting an idea clearly is as important as the idea itself.

The Interactive group sessions created space for collaboration and knowledge sharing, allowing students to learn from both facilitators and their peers. The teams  expressed excitement about all the sessions, noting that these skills will help them effectively present and promote their innovations.

Madam Louisa Amanor, the GES representative, stated that with the innovative solutions the teams are presenting in this year’s challenge, the region will definitely emerge as the top winner. However, she encouraged the teams to give their very best and attend all sessions to further improve their prototypes ahead of the pitching and judging events.

Teachers,  mentors, coaches and STEM Coordinators also benefited from targeted sessions that focused on project management , leadership strategies and emotional intelligence. These sessions emphasized the critical role facilitators play in guiding teams and fostering an environment where creativity can thrive.