Team Next Gen Coders from Swift Academy in the Ashanti Region has been crowned the overall winner of the 2026 Ghana Science & Tech Explorer Challenge Prize (GSTEP), emerging as the top winner of the 2026 Challenge.
Held at the Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Legon, on 9th and 10th July 2026, the two-day event brought together students, educators, policymakers, industry leaders,stakeholders, and development partners to celebrate innovation under the theme “Curiosity to Impact: STEM Without Borders.”
The first day commenced with an exhibition where sixty finalist teams and six Perseverance Teams showcased STEM innovations designed to address real-world challenges in healthcare, agriculture, climate, environmental sustainability, and digital technology. The exhibition continued on the second day before culminating in an Awards Ceremony that recognised the most outstanding young innovators.
Organised by the GSTEP Consortium, the programme continues to inspire Junior High School students to apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to develop practical solutions to challenges within their communities. This year’s edition celebrated five years of GSTEP’s impact on STEM education and the programme’s expansion into the Volta Region, extending its reach to more young innovators across the country.
Delivering the keynote address, the Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, applauded the remarkable innovations displayed by the students and encouraged them to continue transforming their ideas into solutions that will benefit society.
“What you have built is remarkable, but it is only the beginning. You have proven that you can imagine solutions. Now go out and make them real. Build. Test. Fail. Learn. And build again. Ghana needs your ideas, your courage, and your commitment.”
He reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to strengthening STEM education through investments in STEM infrastructure, practical learning, teacher development, and digital access, emphasising that programmes such as GSTEP play a vital role in preparing young people to become innovators, entrepreneurs, and job creators.
Also addressing participants, the Director of the National STEM Resource Unit of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Olivia Opare, reflected on GSTEP’s five-year journey, describing the programme as one that has successfully transformed STEM learning from classroom theory into practical, hands-on innovation. She also highlighted the growing participation and leadership of girls in STEM, noting that more young women are confidently leading teams and presenting innovative solutions.
Speaking on behalf of the GSTEP Consortium, the Executive Director of DreamOval Foundation, Afua Asiamah Adjei, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, consortium partners, sponsors, teachers, coaches, mentors, STEM coordinators, parents, and volunteers whose dedication has contributed to the programme’s continued success. She noted that over the past five years, GSTEP has evolved into a national movement that empowers young people to dream boldly, think critically, and create solutions that positively impact their communities.
The Awards Ceremony recognised the outstanding achievements of the Top Six teams that participated in the 2026 Challenge. Team Next Gen Coders from the Ashanti Region emerged as the overall winner, Team Innovepoch from the Greater Accra Region was named first runner-up, while The Science Whizzes from the Volta Region secured the second runner-up position. Pulse Mobility from the Ashanti Region received the Best Pitch Award, Nova Engineers from the Volta Region was recognised for the Most Innovative Idea, and Replastix Team from the Eastern Region earned the Excellence in Applied Science Award.
Beyond the Top Six, the ceremony also honoured outstanding teams, educators, mentors, coaches, and other stakeholders across several special award categories in recognition of their contributions to the success of GSTEP 2026.
Five years on, GSTEP continues to demonstrate the power of practical STEM education in unlocking the potential of young people across Ghana. By providing students with the skills, mentorship, resources, and platform to innovate, the programme is helping to cultivate a new generation of problem-solvers whose ideas have the potential to transform communities and contribute to the country’s development.
GSTEP is implemented by DreamOval Foundation, Partnership Bureau, Practical Education Network, and Shulem Lake, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, with funding support from Fondation Botnar.
