A groundbreaking agricultural innovation by students of Sefwi Bia Senior High Technical School (SHTS) has earned them first place in the sixth edition of the Western North Regional Renewable Energy Challenge, organized for second-cycle institutions.
The team wowed judges with a multipurpose solar-powered tiller, designed to ease labour-intensive farming activities and enhance tree crop production. The project was praised for its relevance to local farming challenges and its potential to revolutionize smallholder agriculture in rural communities.
Scoring 82.3 points, Sefwi Bia SHTS beat out strong competitors, including Sefwi Wiawso SHS (72.7 points) and St. Joseph SHS (69 points), who placed second and third respectively.
The renewable energy competition, under the theme “Sustainable Energy for a Healthy Future,” was spearheaded by the Energy Commission in partnership with the Ghana Education Service. It aims to foster innovation among students by encouraging the development of practical renewable energy solutions for community problems.
Mr. Julius Nkansah-Nyarko, General Manager of the Renewable Energy Commission, highlighted the event’s role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. “This challenge is about more than just innovation—it’s about using knowledge to drive change in local communities,” he said.
As regional champions, Sefwi Bia SHTS will now advance to the zonal level, where they will compete for a place in the national finals in Accra. The zonal contest will feature the top three schools each from the Northern and Southern zones.
Mr. Joseph Agyabeng, Principal of Awaso STEM SHS, lauded the students for their ingenuity and commended teachers and organisers for supporting youth-driven solutions to national development challenges.
With its inventive use of solar energy to boost farming efficiency, the Sefwi Bia project stands as a shining example of how Ghana’s youth can lead the way toward a more sustainable and self-reliant future.
