The Vim Views & Versions - Blogs of a MIghTy African

I haven't released my Togolese alter-ego. My friend Thelma gave me some helpful material to learn French but my fluency is nowhere close to what it could be. So allow me to start off this blog post with some more English. Or you can skip it all to the French part. I have already given you great info with the title of this blog post :-)
It's very exciting for us at the GhanaThink Foundation to partner with the US Embassy in Ghana to organize TechCamp West Africa. Sounds a lot like Barcamp right? Yeah. You can learn more about multiple Tech Camps done all over the world at this website and at this wiki. Tech Camp West Africa will bring together some of the most influential, innovative and impactful young people in West Africa for a weekend of ideas, actions and projects. GhanaThink and the US Embassy in Ghana look forward to all the cool things that will happen this weekend of November 14-16.

We're looking for applicants, as this is open to citizens of Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia. If you meet the criteria, go ahead and apply today. The deadline is this Friday! This TechCamp promises to be full of action, with great value to all the participants and the various initiatives they are involved in. Read the press release below.

CampTech Régionale

Vous avez entre 25 - 35 ans et vous croyez-vous que votre génération peut servir de catalyseur pour la création d'emplois. Vous avez aussi réalisé des changements positifs dans votre quartier ou dans votre communauté et vous êtes prêts à faire partie d'une grande communauté. Vous êtes du Bénin, du Burkina Faso, du Ghana, de la Côte-d'Ivoire, du Libéria, du Nigeria, et du Togo, nous aimerions avoir de vos nouvelles.

GhanaThink en collaboration avec l’Ambassade des États unis au Ghana organise un Camping de la Technologie (TechCamp West Africa) pour l’Áfrique de l’Ouest, à Accra, Ghana. Ce camping, qui aura lieu du 14 au 16 novembre 2014, vise à répondre aux inquiétudes majeures de la jeunesse dans la sous-région – « Le Chômage et la Créa tion d’Emploi ».

Notre objectif en tant que chercheurs de solutions est de créer et de développer un réseau permanent d’agents de changement en vue d’augmenter la communication et la coordination régionale, et surtout le commerce à travers l’Afrique de l’Ouest.

Ensemble avec des experts du secteur privé, les 100 participants sélectionnés exploreront les obstacles à la croissance de petites entreprises et partager les bonnes pratiques pour les entrepreneurs privés et sociaux à fin de résoudre les défis régionaux à travers le partage des idées, la collaboration, le partenariat et l’apprentissage. Curieux(se)? Vous n’avez qu’à vous inscrire sur notre site www.techcampwestafrica.org avant le 15 août 2014 pour participer au TechCamp West Africa.

Venez partager, explorer, et construire avec nous au TechCamp West Africa. Pour plus d’information, aller sur www.techcaampwestafrica.org ou contacter GhanaThink via Twitter @GhanaThink ou l’Ambassade des États-Unis, Ghana @USEmbassyGhana.

Informations générales: Des dizaines de TechCamp de par le monde entier ont réuni des représentants du secteur privé et de la société civile pour trouver des solutions aux défis communautaires. Ils sont uniques en ce qu’à la fin de l'événement, les voix de la société civile sont reliées à des réseaux internationaux de technologues, de parrains et de bénévoles numériques intéressés à aider à mettre en œuvre des solutions retrouvées.

The first time I went to Tamale was for +Barcamp Tamale 2011. Ever since then, I always look forward to visiting again. When there is the opportunity to meet the young movers and shakers, the young changemakers, doers and entrepreneurs there, it is a huge added bonus. That's what Barcamp Tamale is about. If you are in or around Tamale, you can't miss this event on August 23rd. If you can't be there, tell someone who can. Stay tuned to the hashtag #bctamale. Kudos to the organizing team of +Mohammed Muntasir Nashiru +Yakubu H.Yakubu +Kwaching Jessica +maccarthy lomotey +Enoch Robot Boy Appiah Junior +Peter Awin with the able support of +Leonard Hagan +kofi yeboah +Kobe Subramaniam and the +Barcamp Ghana team of the +GhanaThink Foundation.

Barcamp Tamale 2014 is a free networking forum bringing people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Tamale, Ghana and beyond. It will take place on August 23, 2014 in Tamale. The theme for this year is Harnessing the development potential in Northern Ghana through entrepreneurship and innovation.This Barcamp hopes to assemble stakeholders to network, build a supportive enterprising community and partner to build together.

TheGhanaThink Foundation has successfully organized 31 BarCamps in Ghana as part of itsBarcamp Ghana program since 2008. BarCamp Tamale 2014 will be a showcase of entrepreneurs and innovators in the Northern region. Discussions will center on developing various business and industry sectors in Tamale and the Northern region. It will be an event for many people who live and are interested in Tamale to learn, share and network with.

The Barcamp will feature multiple user-generated breakout sessions about business, social entrepreneurship, technology and development, alongside topics relevant to the Northern Region and beyond. There will be a speed mentoring session where mentors will give insights and answers to questions from attendees. Confirmed resource personnel include Rabi Salifu (ProNet), Naana Fatima Mohammed (FarmCare), +Chris Daniels (Development News Africa), Abdul Washeed (Northern Scope), +Mash Codjoe (Writer & Social Media), Rashida Aduni Ganiyu & +Hikmat baba dua (MILEAD Fellows), +Shani Mahama (Driinic), +Senyo Kpelly (SEKAF Ghana), etc

Register/RSVP at the BarCamp Tamale eventbrite website (barcamptamale14.eventbrite.com) or text "Barcamp Tamale [name] [email address] to 1945 through any mobile network.. You may also contact the BarCamp Tamale team through the eventbrite page for sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, let us know, especially if you have special needs.

BarCamp Tamale 2014 is sponsored byGhanaThink Foundation, Google, mPedigree,Nandimobile, etc. Our media partners are Spy Ghana, Northern Scope. Join us to move the Northern Region and Ghana forward.

Stay tuned via our social media.Twitter |Facebook |Google+

Sometime last year, +kofi yeboah had an idea for a monthly meetup. He had returned from Kenya where he attended the Amani Institute and was brimming with ideas. I admired Kofi, he reminded me of myself when I was younger. To a great extent, that's probably only because he is younger than me. I've known him since +Barcamp Cape Coast 2011 and he's grown into being more awesome, aspirational and inspirational. I wasn't surprised when he sought to organize a monthly event for social entrepreneurs in Accra. Today, that idea has given birth to Kumasi Konnect and a lot more like it are about to follow. Watch this space.

Kofi ended up moving to Kumasi late last year to start his national service with +Clean Team Ghana. Today, he's traveling to Singapore to represent Clean Team at the BOP Convention Expo. I've heard many great things about Singapore from friends like +Curtis Vanderpuije and I know Kofi will come back and share a lot of great experiences. Last year, he was selected to attend the Preparing Global Leader Academy. Via the +GhanaThink Foundation, we supported him to raise the money he needed to go to Jordan as well. I was impressed with how he took charge of the process and drove the campaign to raise the money. He's a very driven young man.

Earlier this year, I was thinking about the lack of networking amongst the entrepreneurial community in Oseikrom. Again. I remembered Kofi's meetup idea and told him we should pilot this in Kumasi. I've been part of the +Global Shapers Accra Hub's Accra Discourse and I was itching to see something similar happen in Kumasi, and in fact, around the country. I'd also seen the +mFriday group at Tech grow quieter with their regular meetings also absent. We needed to fill the void in between +Barcamp Kumasi events. So we came up with the meetup idea and eventually called it Kumasi Konnect.

We spoke with the Kumasi team for GhanaThink and selected a couple of volunteers. Soon enough, the team was formed. Kofi, +Rasheeda Yehuza, +Prince Boadu, +priscilla sarfo-frimpong and myself. We approached +mFriday Ghana to host the first event at the Tech Hub in KNUST and they agreed. Prince brought on Frank Boateng as the very first speaker. We were able to secure pre- and post event interviews with Ultimate Radio in Kumasi, who had supported +Barcamp Kumasi 2013 through +kojo akoto boateng's work. We had a press release and sold (free) tickets via Ego Tickets, using a Ghanaian made answer to Eventbrite, built by +Alfred Rowe.

The first event went really well. We hosted about 60 people on June 25, 2014. The budget was GHC 350. We can surely do more of these meetups for an even smaller amount. Frank Boateng gave a great speech and set the tone for more conversations. You can see a Storify story capturing Frank's soundbites, etc. Planning for the next is underway with Valerie Okudzeto (nee Labi), the CEO of Clean Team Ghana and a Mandela Washington Fellow speaking next on September 4, 2014. You can get tickets for this one at Ego Tickets as well. As usual, the hashtag is #KumasiKonnect. This is where I should say that similar events are coming to Cape Coast and Koforidua soon (already being planned) and also to Tamale after discussions at +Barcamp Tamale.

I was really proud of the team that put this together. Priscilla was getting involved in something of this nature for the first time and acquitted herself well. Rasheeda has been involved in +Tech Needs Girls Gh & already runs her own Nasara Mobile firm which supported Kumasi Konnect with SMS communication. Prince is the convenor of TEDx KNUST at which I spoke once. And you know about Kofi Yeboah already. He's taken over leadership of the +Barcamp Ghana program from me alongside +Kobe Subramaniam, +Senam Aseye Bridget +Leonard Hagan and +Rachel Hormeku. He's growing in stature just like the people I've mentioned in this blog and am excited to see them become more influential and excellent. The critical mass is growing and it has multiple champions. And we're konnecting as well.

The Kumasi Konnect initiative is growing. When we first promoted it, a gentleman called +joseph osei emailed us saying - "My name is joseph, i work with Ultimate Radio, and I will like to be involve in the Kumasi Konnect initiative". I knew of Joseph, because I had seen him email the +BloggingGhana mailing list and knew he lived in Kumasi. I was really happy that he approached us about getting involved in #KumasiKonnect. I knew what exactly we wanted him to do, since he was with Ultimate Radio and was a blogger he'd help us with marketing. After finally reaching him via Twitter, the team asked him to recap the first event. He came back with a post that talked about the first event which featured Frank Boateng and the second (upcoming event) featuring Valerie Okudzeto. Foresight. Get tickets for tickets for this one at Ego Tickets.

Below is the press release he wrote and circulated amongst many websites (albeit edited a bit). I love Joseph's vim, he's had this published in more places than I'm normally able to. He'll work well with +Rasheeda Yehuza, +priscilla sarfo-frimpong and +Prince Boadu as +kofi yeboah and myself play more of a supportive role. We have a few other volunteers who will take on bigger roles as the initiative grows within the +GhanaThink Foundation. We have the locally based Butterfly Media on board for photos & videos as well as Nasara Mobile for SMS communication as well as +mFriday's Tech Hub as venue. Eager to sign up our very first cash sponsors.
_______________________________

A group of entrepreneurs and innovators will be converging again in Kumasi to connect at pience share and build together. If you missed out on the maiden edition of the Kumasi Konnect program at the KNUST Campus, then don’t miss out on this. You will have another opportunity to meet deep thinking and influential youth to interact, share ideas and motivate to propel you for the corporate world. The maiden edition held on 25th July 2014, had Mr. Frank Boateng, who spoke on "Turning Passion into Business". Mr. Frank Boateng is a Serial Entrepreneur, Executive VP for XP Resources LLC in Houston USA and Country MD for EquipXP Mining and Construction Ghana Ltd.

The networking was great with many proposing the meeting should be held every month. Participants said Kumasi Konnect created opportunities for skills development and application among the youth. The participants were inspired by Mr. Frank’s diligence towards his dreams and his utmost hard work in turning his ideas and passion into a business.

Interactions led to new opportunities for collaboration among attendees. We hope that the new social capital forged would spark projects that would be of benefit to communities. The participants contributed and shared their personal entrepreneurial experiences, challenges they face and how they are overcoming those challenges as well as asking thought provoking questions which culminated into meaningful discussions.

Valerie Okudzeto, CEO of Clean Team Ghana, will speak at the second edition of Kumasi Konnect on the topic "Leveraging Opportunities for Personal Development", and the event is slated for4th September, 2014 at KNUST's Tech Hub. The Mandela Washington Fellow will draw from her personal and professional experiences; including key innovative interventions by Clean Team in addressing the problem of sanitation in Kumasi. She will also share experiences from the recent Mandela Washington Fellowship at the White House.

The overall objective of Kumasi Konnect is; to empower the youth to learn how to develop public policies to solve community problems, also, to learn how citizens can have power to monitor and influence public policy making in the community and develop intellectual and participatory skills that promote authentic research, critical thinking, effective communication and reflective thinking.

Kumasi Konnect is an initiative by the GhanaThink Foundation and sponsored by the TechHub in KNUST. This meet-up hosts about 40 young energetic and innovative mind in Kumasi each time. This event series will further commune the network built out of Barcamp Kumasi. Kumasi Konnect series will further commune the network built out of Barcamp Kumasi. The event will also bring together innovators and doers in Kumasi, to interact and share ideas that have the propensity for social and economic impact. Stay tuned via +Barcamp Kumasi on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ or the #KumasiKonnect hashtag.

One of my favorite things to do at Barcamps and in fact, events in general that I attend or have a vested interest in, is how they heard about a particular event. As someone who is part of a team that organizes many events via the +GhanaThink Foundation, I want to know what's effective and efficient across every thing we do. Working hard is good, working smart is better.

At +Barcamp Tamale 2014, we asked a similar question. How many people heard about this event from Facebook? A good number of people raised their hand. "How many of you heard about this event from Twitter?" A smaller umber but still respectable number of people had their hands up. One of the participants shouted "Whatsapp". It is allowed. So we asked accordingly. A surprisingly good number of hands went up. Much fewer hands went up when we asked about radio. Even fewer for email or from a website. A good number of attendees heard about the event from their friends - for me, the most important and trusted source. TV? There are a lot of good things to gain from having the event promoted on TV, but not at the expense of the cost. No, thank you.

The Whatsapp bit is very intriguing. Since early 2013, Whatsapp has been the medium for organizing our +Barcamp Ghana events. Physical meetings have reduced to the barest minimum and things are still getting done. Similarly, we decided to create normal and colorful Whatsapp messages with which to market the Barcamps and get people to register and come. They are not the kinds of memes that spread like wildfire on Whatsapp but they move and are essentially effective. We expect to do the same for more Barcamps within the +Barcamp Ghana program to come.

Every year for Barcamp Tamale, the organizing team debates about marketing the Barcamp on radio. I am not a fan of paying the money for LPMs and interviews to promote an event. It's not shown the relevant results. So we always try to get these as part of a media partnership. There is ownership in this. We have had Barcamps with over 300 people in attendance without the benefit of traditional media. It is happening in Accra today, but it will also happen in Tamale soon.

You might be wondering why the focus on social media when a small percentage of Ghanaians are on it? Guess what - the most influential, innovative and inspirational young people in Ghana are on it. It's the best place to grow something that will be rooted and will last. We are building a network of young changemakers, doers and entrepreneurs in Ghana. It's important that it grows organically and from a point out. It must be driven by media that is social, sources that are familiar and people that are trusted. It is slow, but effective. It is small, but social. It is about publicity, but also who and where you heard it from. +Barcamp Cape Coast is this weekend. I'd be asking the same question. Stay tuned.

Press releases are long. I don't even know why. But you will read them if you are really interested. Or at least look for the bolded text and numbers. Otherwise, this message is pretty simple. National Volunteer Day - where many people in Ghana volunteer their skills, effort, time and money to make Ghana better around a day (or two or three) is here again. September 20-22. You can do something in your own small way. You should. You should also let us know before hand, so we promote, support, join you. Or you can join us. Interested? The details are in the press release below.

The +Ghana Volunteer Program (GVP) is a program being run by theGhanaThink Foundation, an NGO based both in Ghana and the USA. National Volunteer Day, which falls on the 21st of September is our major activity . It was instituted as part of GVP in 2013. The initiative is to get as many people as possible in Ghana to volunteer their time or do community service on the Founder’s Day Holiday. While volunteerism is not very popular and part of our society’s fabric, many individuals and organizations volunteer occasionally. National Volunteer Day is to increase these numbers and unify efforts in volunteerism in Ghana.

The mission of the +GhanaThink Foundation, a Ghana and US based NGO, is to mobilize talent and support idea generation to projects and ventures. Through our Barcamps, we have built a network of over 5500 Ghanaian change makers, doers and entrepreneurs through events in Ghana. We want to use this network and other channels to build a bigger network of volunteers in Ghana. We believe volunteerism is the heart of community development.

We want to encourage more people to do community service within Ghana. That’s the same spirit our founding fathers engendered within our citizenry. By having volunteer or community service activities around September 21, we would be cherishing the ideals of founding Ghana and joining a national effort to work for Ghana. Volunteering demonstrates initiative and hard work, two ideals that many organizations look for while hiring. We believe that by participating in NVDay, participants would be building their CVs.

We expect at least 233 different activities on the day. You can find info about these activities and more onbit.ly/nvday14. If you need more info on what to do or how to contribute to National Volunteer Day, visit the same link. Interested groups,organizations and individuals should register/RSVP at theNational volunteer Day eventbrite website (nvday14.eventbrite.com). Different individuals and organizations have planned volunteer activities for September 21st. Go to http://bit.ly/nvday14 to find about activities and more.

You can see various photos from NVDay13 etc on the Ghana Volunteer ProgramFacebook&Google+ pages. Most of the promotion and adoption of Nvday13 was driven via online and social media channels with some radio and television support. 56 activities were registered onEventbrite, mostly by individuals and groups that were organizing volunteering activities for the first time. For NVDay 2013, about 40 activities with about 300 volunteers involved happened. Their activities directly impacted the lives of thousands of people. These activities happened in +Accra, +Tema, Nsawam, +Kasoa, +Cape Coast, +Takoradi, +Kumasi, +Koforidua, Saltpond, +Tamale and +Wa. Activities ranged from skills training programs, clean up exercises, tutoring in a particular course, reading clinics for kids, blood donation drives, creating playing grounds for kids in the government schools to painting schools and faded zebra crossings. The impact on the volunteers and beneficiaries was massive and was captured onsocial media.

GVP has supported the volunteer work of many organizations in Ghana. It provided the recent Agribusiness bootcamp in Accra with volunteers. It also provided 23 volunteers for the Chale Wote Street Art Festival.It supported the Read Aloud Ghana campaign in March 2014 with media publicity as well. It has acalendar of volunteer activities in Ghana as well. Follow us onTwitter. Contact the team via volunteer at ghanathink dot org

Tomorrow, I will be in Cape Coast for the 4th +Barcamp Cape Coast. In 2010, +Kobe Subramaniam attended +Barcamp Takoradi. He was so inspired and motivated by the event that he led a team to organize the first Barcamp Cape Coast in November 2011. Since then, Barcamp Cape Coast has been a fixture where it happens a week after the Fetu Afahye festival in Oguaa - the local name for Cape Coast. Kobe's been supported by the likes of +kofi yeboah who he's on the +Barcamp Ghana team with. This includes +Rachel Hormeku who attended multiple Barcamps last year and is growing into more responsibility. Other leaders that have arisen out of this 4 year growth include +Papa Baffoe Aikins +Kwesi Quagraine and +William Osilaja Boampong who is now part of the +GhanaThink Foundation's +Ghana Volunteer Program team. The theme here is growth but one important theme is also that of branding. That's what Barcamp Cape Coast on September 13th, 2014 will be about. Check out the press release below.

Barcamp Cape Coast 2014 is a free networking forum bringing people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Cape Coast, Ghana and beyond. It will take place on September 13, 2014 at the University of Cape Coast, Faculty of Education Lecture Theatre 9. The theme for this year is Enhancing development through Corporate and Personal Branding. This event will be the 4th BarCamp in Cape Coast as it builds a network of young change makers, doers and entrepreneurs in Ghana.

TheGhanaThink Foundation has successfully organized 32 BarCamps in Ghana. Barcamp Cape Coast 2014 will focus on how Ghana's youth can brand themselve as well as their corporate image. Barcamp Cape Coast will showcase how Corporate and Personal Branding would enhance the total development of the youth. There will be a focus on channeling the present energies around social media into positive developments and progress for Cape Coast and surrounding areas as well. It will be an insightful, informational and inspirational event that young people in and around Cape Coast should not miss.

The Barcamp will feature multiple user-generated breakout sessions about business, social entrepreneurship, technology and development, alongside topics relevant to the Central Region and beyond. There will be a speed mentoring session where mentors will give insights and answers to questions from attendees. Confirmed mentors include +Adwoa Adobea Owusu (Media), Patrick Agyei Nketsia (Utama GH), Richard Essuman (Digital Valley), Theodora Princella Obuam Ansah (Media Advocacy), Sarah +benewaa fosu (Media), Patrick Acquah (Youth Advocacy), +Afua Prempeh (EPA & Mandela Washington Fellow), etc.

Register/RSVP at the BarCamp Cape Coast eventbrite website (barcampcapecoast14.eventbrite.com) or text "Barcamp Cape Coast [name] [email address] to 1945 through any mobile network. You may also contact the BarCamp Cape Coast team through the eventbrite page for sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, let us know, especially if you have special needs.

BarCamp Cape Coast 2014 is sponsored by Google, +Saazaa Shoes, mPedigree,Nandimobile, etc. Our media partners are +Spy Ghana and ATL 100.5 FM. Join us to move the Central Region and Ghana forward.

Stay tuned via our social media. Twitter | Facebook | Google+

This weekend I will be in Koforidua for the 2nd +Barcamp Koforidua. It took us a while to build this team. It started with the lone ranger +Nkansah Rexford who I knew as the main brain behind +Planning Wikimedia Ghana who was joined by +Samuel Tinagyei while leveraging Facebook. +Billy James Dega supported us by introducing us to the +All Nations University College NSBE leaders. +Eric Amonoo and +Samuel Mari Twum emerged out of that. While we were promoting the National Volunteer Day on Facebook, +duncan qwame and later +Jemima Abochie joined us, repping +koforidua polytechnic. This year, another mighty lady has joined the team, +Selorm Djaba.

Last year, we focused on growing a community of change makers, This year, we focus on helping people engage their passions and monetize their opportunities. A side note for me, I'll be trying to find out in Koftown proper what the word Abocco means. But let me not digress. Barcamp Koforidua - October 4th, 2014. If you are not going to be there, #bckdua on social media is your friend. Check out the press release below.

BarCamp Koforidua 2014 is a free networking event to bring people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue about Koforidua, Ghana and beyond. The event will happen at the Engineering School at All Nations University in Koforidua on October 4, 2014. The theme is "Engaging your passions, monetizing opportunities". Barcamp Koforidua is organized primarily by the +GhanaThink Foundation, an NGO based both in Ghana and the USA, which has successfully organized 33 BarCamps in Ghana.

Barcamp Koforidua 2014 is the 2nd of its kind and it aims at creating a platform for young people to share ideas on how to identify, clarify and convert opportunities into business ventures by learning to engage and leverage their passions. it also seeks to promote partnerships that are directed towards providing a support base for young entrepreneurs and innovators. We would also discuss how Koforidua and its surrounding areas can be positively affected by youth.

Barcamp Koforidua aims to assemble Koforidua stakeholders to network, build a supportive enterprising community and give birth to lasting professional partnerships. It will feature many young inspirational people based in and outside Koforidua. Confirmed mentors are Francis Torgbor Richtor (RLG), Mr Omari Koranteng (Unibank), Maxwell Borkotey Mensh (AceLife Consult), BridgetYayra Kpodo (PMAG), Godfred Kini (Capital View Hotel), Sylvanus Gatorwu (Vision Fm), etc.

Register at Barcamp Koforidua eventbrite website You can also register by sending “[Barcamp Koforidua] [Your Name] [Your Email Address] to 1945 on all mobile networks. See you there! BarCamp Koforidua 2014 is sponsored by the +All Nations University College, NSBE-Ghana, Google Ghana, +Saazaa Shoes, +Inform Ghana, +BloggingGhana, BlaqSheep, and Nandimobile. Media partner are +Spy Ghana and Vision 90.9 FM.

Stay tuned via our social media.
Twitter, Facebook, Google+

“Barcamp Bolga is happening because a number of people attended Barcamps around Ghana and want Bolgatanga to be a part of building this network”. People like +Frank Bruce has been asking to be part of the team that organizes this event since last year. +Barcamp Tema team member +Leonard Hagan moved to the Upper East region for his national service and has grown into handling more responsibility with the +Barcamp Ghana team. He's really spearheading this due to his drive and knowledge of the area. +Enoch Robot Boy Appiah Junior attended UDS in Navrongo and has supported this from day one. +Joachim Danbo has great passion for the Northern parts of Ghana and he brought on +Yussuf Bouda into the team. Once the ball was rolling, +Jon Mydaz & +Daniel Yakuba joined after attending +Barcamp Tamale this year. A few more calls for team members brought us Razak Dimbie. Unfortunately, there is no lady in the team. But that's not to wait for. I am sure after Barcamp Bolga happens this Saturday, +GhanaThink Foundation will be able to recruit some ladies. We're getting close to 50-50 gender splits at Barcamps now. Yay! I will be there this Saturday too, spreading the mission of the+GhanaThink Foundation. Join us. Check the press release below for info and registration. I'm really excited to go to Bolga for the first time! I shared these tweets.

I have no doubt in mind. I am going to Barcamp Bolga. Can't wait to experience Bolgatanga. & visit Paga & cross into Burkina Faso. #bcbolga
— Ato #bcbolga (@Abocco) October 4, 2014

But am going to Bolga primarily cos I want to meet people like me there. #Morevim changemaker, doer, entrepreneur types. #bcbolga.
— Ato #bcbolga (@Abocco) October 8, 2014

+Barcamp Bolga 2014 is a free networking forum bringing people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Bolgatanga, Ghana and beyond. It takes place on October 11, 2014 at the SSNIT Conference Hall in Bolga. The theme for this year is“Igniting passion to achieve excellence”.This Barcamp hopes to assemble stakeholders in Bolga to network, build a supportive enterprising community and partner to build together.

TheGhanaThink Foundation has successfully organized 34 BarCamps in Ghana as part of itsBarcamp Ghana program since 2008. BarCamp Bolga 2014 will be the 1st of its kind and it will showcase of entrepreneurs and innovators in the Upper East region. Discussions will center on developing various business and industry sectors in Bolgatanga and the Upper East region. It will be an event for many people who live and are interested in Bolgatanga to learn, share and network with.

The Barcamp will feature multiple user-generated breakout sessions about business, social entrepreneurship, technology and development, alongside topics relevant to the Upper East Region and beyond. There will be a speed mentoring session where mentors will give insights and answers to questions from attendees. Confirmed resource personnel include +Agana Bawa (Media man), Dr. Rockibel Adature (Motivational speaker), Kancha Joseph (Entrepreneur), Chris Akoba (Proprietor), George Afari (1st National Bank), +Albert Azongo (Journalist), +Hassan Hamadu, etc.

Register/RSVP at the BarCamp Bolga eventbrite website (barcampbolga14.eventbrite.com) or text "Barcamp Bolga [name] [email address] to 1945 through any mobile network. BarCamp Bolga 2014 is sponsored by +Inform Ghana +BloggingGhana Nandimobile, Upright Consult, etc. Our media partners are Word FM, Ura Radio &Spy Ghana. Stay tuned via our social media. Twitter |Facebook |Google+

Tanga means rock & #bcbolga will be a rock on which passionate, patriotic, proactive, positive, progressive &productive people will be built
— Ato #bcbolga (@Abocco) October 8, 2014

The first time I heard about the LifeBuoy Global Handwashing Day was through +Vanessa Kavi, a +Unilever employee contacted me about getting volunteers. We were neck deep in planning the second edition of the yearly National Volunteer Day. Unilever was interested in supporting and wanted the +Ghana Volunteer Program to help them meet a goal. Connecting volunteers to volunteer activities is GVP’s mandate so this partnership was set. A couple of weeks later, on October 15th to be precise, on Global Handwashing Day, over 233 Ghanaians will be contributing their time and effort to help a child reach 5. Kudos to +Felix Nartey +Ela Asare +Gerald Sowah +William Osilaja Boampong +Enock Seth Nyamador and +krystabel vorsah for leading this charge.

A couple of people have successfully made me feel guilty every time I visit the loo to do the do and leave it without washing my hands. It’s become second nature for me to wash my hands as often as possible. Even if I am in the cleanest of places. Ghana isn’t the cleanest of places. In fact, the city which Ghana is emptying into and which those attracted to Ghana end up in, is amongst the dirtiest. Accra is so filthy that this narrative is overpowering its competition on Google. If we get into the habit of keeping clean, we can wash our hands off this bad reputation Ghana is gaining. We can buoy more life into our Ghana brand.

The first time I returned to Ghana after being abroad, one thing that clearly struck me was the dust. In effect, the dirt. Many people are unhappy with the cholera situation in Accra but a lot of people are not surprised. The cholera situation is losing a lost cause versus ebola, because it hasn’t really left and is as preventable as ebola is uncurable. A few young Ghanaians took initiative in the midst of the Ebola jokes and chatter, and took to the streets with #NoChoBo (No cholera & Ebola). What else do you expect from people who are committed to telling our own stories - +BloggingGhana. When we realised we were getting lost in the Ice Bucket Challenge hype, +Joselyn Dumas launched and continues to push an X-cholera campaign, fighting cholera.

Clean up exercises have became a rave that President John Mahama is bringing back good memories of Jerry John Rawlings. They were popular with National Volunteer Day activity organizers as well. Lifebuoy was there with us, cleaning up in these sanitation drives. Hand sanitizers are expensive, living a healthy lifestyle can cut cost. Beach clean-ups happened in Cape Coast, Ada, etc. The La Beach’s situation is far gone that it needs some mobilization to clean up. In preparation for this, NShoreNa led some sensitization on the issue. The same kind of mobilization is happening for Lifebuoy Global Handwashing Day - #LifeBuoyGHD. The fulfillment in volunteering will fill the void of responsibility in meeting the goals of the #Helpachildreach5 campaign.

Today, you can take charge like those mentioned above. I’ve always believed in “prevention is better than cure”. Leaders prevent, leaders act. Volunteers accept the challenge on their own will. And will will solutions to problems. Volunteer to help us get rid of preventable diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia. These diseases are the top 2 killers of children under 5. Go tweet #Helpachildreach5. Now. Does that feel fulfilling? Doing it together and at the same time with many others is powerful. This is Global Handwashing Day. Let’s help our children (and communities) live and grow. +GhanaThink Foundation’s motto is “Less Talk, More Action”. Act today and at the end of the day, you can say “I Made Globe Better Today” #IMGBT.

Watch this video. YouTube Link (Tree of Life).

Barcamp Ho is always epic! This year, we celebrate the living memory of the biggest Ho & Volta region champion I've known - the late Eli Aidam. He was a strong coordinator for Barcamp Ho and the centre aorund which many other great initiatives in the Volta region revolved. The 4th Barcamp in Ho is happening this Saturday, in a new location. The University of Health & Allied Sciences. This is one of the freshest public universities in Ghana and the +GhanaThink Foundation is happy to host +Barcamp Ho there as it grows. This will be our 37th +Barcamp Ghana event we grow a network of changemakers, doers and entrepreneurs. The team has grown and is ably led by +Courage Christson Tetteh. +Gameli Adzaho is back in Ghana after his Masters in the UK and contributing a lot. +Ousman Saidy who is a community IT leader in Ho is part of the team, alongside +Elvis Bomasah who is shining in his online role. +Shika Brown was a volunteer last year and has a major role. UHAS being the venue has given +Precious Adade +Harry Akligoh & +Mark Hammond.

Like I said before, Barcamp Ho is always epic! Ask +Francis Addai for instance. And +Mabel Blankson. More on this subject later :-) +Eyram Tawia always shows us a good time, with kenkey parties and all. +Seyram Freddy Ahiabor is the life of the party. +Party Crew was christened in Ho after a bloody good party. +David Nikoi +Donald Ward & +Nehemiah Attigah rep. We will be missing +Ali Bukari Maïga greatly o! Read the press release below

GhanaThink to Lead Youth Development and Entrepreneurship in Ho

Barcamp Ho 14 is a free networking forum bringing people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Ho, Ghana and beyond. It will take place on October 25, 2014 at the Auditorium of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) near the Volta Regional Hospital (Trafalgar). The theme for this year is "Re-Educating Ourselves for the New Entrepreneurial World”. This Barcamp hopes to assemble stakeholders to network, develop a supportive enterprising community, and partner to build together.

Barcamp Ho 2014 follows 36 successful BarCamps in Ghana organized by theGhanaThink Foundation as part of itsBarcamp Ghana project. This will be the fourth Barcamp in Ho and we are dedicating this year’s event to the memory of Eli Yao Aidam, a Barcamp Ho pioneer. Eli was the heartbeat of GhanThink’s activities in the Volta region; he used his influence in Centre for Creative Youth and other networks to the benefit of the movement in the region. We hope his selflessness will inspire a new generation of entrepreneurial civic leaders in our communities.

This year’s event aims to showcase how Ghana’s youth can identify, utilize and develop opportunities. Specifically, the role of personal development in skills development and entrepreneurship would be explored across sectors. Through Barcamp Ho 2014, we hope to ignite fresh thinking, collaboration, and a hand-on approach to development in the Volta region and beyond.

Attendees get to choose from or lead multiple user-generated breakout sessions about business, social entrepreneurship, health, education, technology and development. There will be a speed mentoring session where mentors will give insights and answers to questions from attendees. Some of the resource persons include Dr Archibald Letsa, Juliet Nugble (V.P FM), +Prince Kotoko (IT Specialist), Frederick Duodo Takyi (Daily Guide), Bismark Tay (Leadership Coach), King Norbet Akpabli (Citi FM), Solomon Adade (Dietician), +Dzidudu Darkey-Mensah (Playwright), Leonard Lumor (Presenter / Actor), +Makafui Nyamadi (GCOM), +Awo Crankson (Edwina Kafui), etc.

Register/RSVP at the Barcamp Ho Eventbrite website (barcampho14.eventbrite.com) or text "Barcamp Ho + [name] + [email address]” to 1945 through any mobile network. You may also contact the Barcamp Ho team through the Eventbrite page for sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, let us know, especially if you have special needs.

Barcamp Ho 2014 is supported byUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Nandimobile, etc. Our media partners are Volta Premier Radio and Spy Ghana. Join us to move the Volta Region and Ghana forward.

Stay tuned via our social media.

Twitter | Facebook | Google+

The time has come to host my profile somewhere on the web. There's no better place to start than here. :-)

Profile of Ato Ulzen-Appiah
Ato Ulzen-Appiah is an entrepreneur, manager and blogger. He hails from Elmina, grew up in Kumasi and lives in Accra. A notable alumni of Presec, he studied at MIT for his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and had his Master's degree at Stanford in construction and engineering management.

He currently works at Rancard as product manager building new revenue services off its platform, in charge of payments and content hosting. He oversaw the launch of the Intel Explore & Learn application and the building of the African Leadership Network gathering application.

He's the director at the GhanaThink Foundation which mobilizes and organizes talent for the primary benefit of Ghana. GhanaThink, since its inception, has given birth to Kasahorow and Museke. It currently runs the Barcamp Ghana program (37 events since 2008) from which the Junior Camp Ghana program was created (7 events since 2013). Through GhanaThink, he also initiated National Volunteer Day, which is now part of the Ghana Volunteer Program.

He's a member of the Global Shapers Accra Hub, part of the World Economic Forum community, which organizes the Accra Discourse. He worked at Google as a program manager building sustainable tech communities in Africa, overseeing scores of tech events around the continent.

He co-founded Museke.com -an African music website, with a focus of lyrics and has been called the 'African Music Bible'. Through Museke, he organized 2 African music awards and the website had content from over 45 African countries.

One of Ghana's top bloggers, he blogs about personal experiences and things of interest at mightyafrican.blogspot.com. He's very passionate about Ghana and Africa. He exhibits this through social media greatly, having started the #233moments and #IMGBT trends, the latter of which stands for "I Made Ghana Better Today".

Wow, so this is going to be the 5th +Barcamp Kumasi! I missed the first one though in 2010, when +Nana Kwabena Owusu +Teresa Lemaire +Kwamena Appiah-Kubi +Kofi Ulzen-Appiah +Carl Nutsugah and co were premiering it. We've come far. It's sad Eli Aidam won't be here with us for this event - the Ho & Volta region champion I've known - he passed away earlier this year in Kumasi. We'll have a minute of silence for him. He's a hero, like the many others we'll be celebrating this Saturday at +Barcamp Kumasi. Register and join us for Barcamp Kumasi at the College of Science Auditorium at KNUST on November 1st. This follows two KumasiKonnect events. The organizing team behind that +kofi yeboah +priscilla sarfo-frimpong +Rasheeda Yehuza +Prince Boadu +joseph osei have been joined the ringleader +sampson deklu +Watson Bedzrah and co. Kumasi is buzzing as a result of many +GhanaThink Foundation led initiatives.

I grew up in Oseikrom and I love going back, to be with my family (now mostly parents) and reminisce. It's important that we champion the ability of young people to succeed while remaining in Kumasi. A supportive community is necessary, and the +Barcamp Ghana program continues to build a network of changemakers, doers and entrepreneurs in Ghana and beyond. I expect a great +Barcamp Ghana event.Read the press release below

Barcamp Kumasi 2014 is a free networking forum bringing people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Kumasi, Ghana and beyond. It takes place on November 1, 2014 at the College of Science of Auditorium, KNUST. The theme for this year is "Youth Entrepreneurship: Celebrating Our Heroes". This Barcamp hopes to assemble stakeholders to network, build a supportive enterprising community and partner to build together.

TheGhanaThink Foundation has successfully organized 37 BarCamps in Ghana. BarCamp Kumasi 2014 will be a celebration of heroes who are increasing the narrative of successful entreprises and vibrant opportunities in Kumasi. This 5th Barcamp In Kumasi is continues to our network of changemakers, doers and entrepreneurs via theBarcamp Ghana program. Ato Ulzen-Appiah, director of the GhanaThink Foundation, chips in: After twoKumasiKonnect events, Barcamp Kumasi returns to amplify local success stories.

As usual, we will have multiple user-generated breakout sessions about topics relevant to the Ashanti Region and beyond. Our speed mentoring session will help participants gain insights and answers to questions. Our confirmed mentors include +Gamel Sankarl (Author), Rick B. Okyere (EVOLV.Africa), +Rosalin Abigail Kyere-Nartey (Rosak Consult), Asantewa Monney (Clean Team), +Jorge Appiah (Creativity Group), +Abigail Aruna \ (Clean Team), Frank Boateng (Darko Fresh), +Albert Yaw Opoku (HapaWeb), Dr +Edinam Gaveh (KATH), +mildred ofosu-ennin (Fashion Designer), +Johannes Arthur (Artist), +Justin Dakorah (Doctor), +woedem dzogbefia (Architect), Comfort Opoku Anima (OWEC Ghana), +David Asiamah (AgroMindset), +Winnifred Selby (Ghana Bamboo Bikes), etc

Register/RSVP at the BarCamp Kumasi eventbrite website (barcampkumasi14.eventbrite.com) or text "Barcamp Kumasi [name] [email address] to 1945 through any mobile network. Contact us via barcamp at ghanathink dot org for for sponsorship or partnership opportunities.

BarCamp Kumasi 2014 is sponsored by SCISA (KNUST), Reach for Change, Google, Bridge of Hope Limited, Clean Team Ghana, mPedigree, Saazaa Shoes, Nandimobile, Blaqsheep, etc. Our media partners are the Ultimate Radio & Spy Ghana. Join us to move the Ashanti Region and Ghana forward. Stay tuned via our social media.Twitter |Facebook |Google+

Sometime at the end of September, #appstargh was trending in Ghana on Twitter. Many got curious. We wouldn't have gotten to this point if Ghanaians hadn't applied their creativity. Recent times have shown that Ghanaians are comedians and will make fun of many things. In fact, you could say Ghanaians are jokers - in positive and negative ways. There was one huge beneficiary either you looked at this particular issue - AppStar GH. Turned out it's about Vodafone's App Star mobile app competition. Now, this competition is not a joke. It has some great incentives tied to it in unearthing more great Ghanaian built mobile applications. But before we delve further, you'll want to read these tweets

An app to detect False Prophets Appostle #AppStarGH
— SKU Boye (@skuboye) September 26, 2014

An app that shows Ghana's physical geography- Ghana mAPP ... #AppStarGH @VodafoneGhana
— Raise My Flag (@KojoAgyei_A) September 25, 2014

An app that can actually coach the Ghana Black Stars call it APPiah #AppStarGH
— BiGxGh.Com (@bigxghdotcom) September 25, 2014

Design an app to help pastors detect those who owe tithe, call it Appe-tithe #AppStarGh pic.twitter.com/vkW6u8sNIB
— Efo Dela (@Amegaxi) September 24, 2014

App to calculate how much change you get from the trotro mate, Call it Approximate #AppStarGh
— Efo Dela (@Amegaxi) September 23, 2014

An app that turns your phone/device into a scanner and tells you if you're clean enough after taking your bath: sAPPor #appstargh
— Welbie (@Welbie_) September 23, 2014

An app that will let you know what to say when you meet a girl for the first time. Approach. #AppStarGH
— Jack Ma (@iBapaki) September 23, 2014

There's not much to say after these tweets. Is there? Ghanaians are ingenuous with words. I really admire Vodafone's social media work over the course of this year. I was featured in one of their campaigns earlier this year - #AskAto where I answered many questions about myself and social media. I blogged about it here. These campaigns are run by the folks at Echo Haus, who are doing an awesome job on social media. Social media gurus be that.

We have to show we are ingenuous with our skills as well. Some of the apps mentioned above should be pretty easy to build. There's 10,000 GHC waiting for you at the end of the competition. Go on. Build it app. Learn more about the Vodafone AppStar competition at http://www.vodafoneappstar.com/. The deadline is November 21, 2014. This next Friday. You've built an app. Submit it.

Have an app you've developed that you want more people to know about?

Want to win GHC10,000 to support monetizing your app and work?

Want to pit yourself against developers from other countries?

Want to have your app highlighted and featured in an appstore to be accessed by millions of users?

Then participate in the Vodafone Ghana App Star Contest. Deadline is November 21, 2014!

It's a mobile app competition to uncover creative and innovative app developers in Ghana and to offer them an opportunity to compete internationally with other developers. Let me save you the fine print details. Rights to your app remain with you, and you can have your app marketed to millions of Vodafone users. Imagine what getting a 1% conversion on that would mean for your efforts?

The AppStar competition is the latest signal of intent by +Vodafone Ghana to engage the tech community further. They've already organized meetups in various communities in Ghana (including the +Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology & the +mFriday Tech Hub) to engage and promote the competition

RT @VodafoneGhana: Pictures from Vodafone Tech Hub in KNUST #AppStarGHSubmit your app today @ http://t.co/aq05pQH9KE pic.twitter.com/0L8yyqXPuD
— Kumasi #bcksi (@Barcampkumasi) October 10, 2014

Team @MESTghana paying attention to the presentation about #appstargh. For more information http://t.co/wbNg4Iifn8 pic.twitter.com/cyFEFc1YUf
— Vodafone Ghana (@VodafoneGhana) October 11, 2014

This annual contest - first time with +Vodafone Ghana - is categorized into start-up and established developers. There's a fine line when it comes to these groupings in Ghana but it also strikes some healthy conversation about developer demand and experience in Ghana. Winners of the competition in each category in Ghana will be awarded prizes worth GHC10,000 and an all-expense paid trip to India to participate in the global App Star competition on 15th January, 2015. There, these two winners will be matched against winners from South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and India.

The overall winners of the Vodafone AppStar competition (established and start-up) will win all-expense paid trips to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, a congress which is one of the best places to be for people in the tech community worldwide. The second prize winners will receive USD 5,000 worth of Amazon Shopping vouchers. Other participants at the Global level will receive devices from Vodafone. Here's the real kicker though - all winners will receive free advertisements on Vodafone Group’s app store. That's millions of people accessing your app. Oh, I mentioned this already? It's just that important for you to know.

App developers in Ghana can participate by registering on the Vodafone App Star website– www.vodafoneappstar.com to submit their apps. Sorry for making you read this long before giving you the website. The deadline is this next Friday - November 21, 2014. But don't fret. You have an app built already, submit it. I've not seen an app competition with as much bang for buck and as much value for being open, yet.

Next year, the +GhanaThink Foundation will break the buck of having +Barcamp Takoradi only in even years - 2010, 2012, 2014. This year's Barcamp Takoradi will focus on building a neworked community which can be leveraged for more special things to happen in the Twin-Cities of Ghana. Let's welcome the 3rd Barcamp in Takoradi (arguably the 3rd biggest city in Ghana). I missed the first one though in 2010, when +Mac-Jordan Degadjor led a team alongside +Donald Ward +Teresa Lemaire +Kwamena Appiah-Kubi and co to organize it. The event was held at the Takoradi Technical Institute. Saturday's Barcamp Takoradi will be at +Takoradi Polytechic just like in 2012, but in a different venue.

Barcamp Takoradi 2010 was the first Barcamp +Kobe Subramaniam attended. Today, he's part of the +Barcamp Ghana team alongside +kofi yeboah, +Senam Aseye Bridget +Rachel Hormeku and Takoradi native +Leonard Hagan. +Nana Fynn Class-Peters who's held the fort greatly run our recent Twitter chat in the run-up to the event. +araba assafuaba yelbert joined the team this year and is the defacto lead - while only a second year student at T-Poly. After several calls for volunteers based in Takoradi, +herbert acheampong joined our team alongside some Curious Minds - +Dora Mochiah& Dora Ampaabeng. +Enock Seth Nyamador, who's attended multiple Barcamps, and joined the +Ghana Volunteer Program, is contributing as well. He's currently studying nearby, at the University of Mines in Tarkwa.

I'm looking forward to a great event with a lot of awesome people based in Takoradi (and Sekondi), all of which will find a lot of value in being there. It's well documented now that Takoradi is not growing as quickly as it should and its growth is having adverse effects on its residents. In 2011, I wrote this blog post - Watching, guiding and aiding Takoradi's growth. I am looking for first hand experiences in order to rewrite this story. Join me at the event or participate via the #bctdi hashtag. Read the press release below.

BarCamp Takoradi 2014 is a FREE networking forum to bring people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue about Takoradi, Ghana and beyond. The Theme for this year is "Building skills to leverage on local opportunities" BarCamp Takoradi 2014 will take place in 15th November 2014 at the School of Applied Arts Conference room at Takoradi Polytechnic. It hopes to assemble Western Regional stakeholders to network, build a supportive entreprising community and partnership. Participants will learn from, share and network with each other.

The 3rd Barcamp Takoradi is as part of the Barcamp Ghana program run by the GhanaThink Foundation, an NGO based both in Ghana and the USA. GhanaThink has organized 38 BarCamps in Ghana in building a network of changemakers, doers and entrepreneurs. This Barcamp will connect and strengthen a community of motivated and aspirational people in the Twin-cities, ultimately benefiting the Western region and Ghana.

At Barcamp Takoradi, we will discuss how residents in the Twin Cities - Sekondi & Takoradi - can acquire relevant skills to take advantage of the economic growth in the area. From the recent pre-event chat onTwitter via the#bctdi hashtag, many people spoke about the need for opportunities to be given to young people in Takoradi. Other respondents argued that the young people must be qualified in order to take on these (job) opportunities. Ato Ulzen-Appiah, director of the GhanaThink Foundation commented: "There are various opportunities and gaps that need to be filled as Takoradi grows. Ghanaians must build skills and expertise to take advantage of these".

Thought and business leaders such as Seth Awuku (leading lawyer), James Pyne (Oil & Gas) and Issa Ouedrago (Revolutionary Farmer) in the region will share insight and inspiration. As usual, we will have multiple user-generated breakout sessions about topics relevant to the Western Region and beyond. Our speed mentoring session will help participants gain insights and answers to questions. Our confirmed mentors include +Afua Prempeh (Mandela Washington Fellow), +Fiifi Adinkra (+Ghana Ndwom), +Andy Adisi (Empire FM), Kwame Mensah (WERENGO), Joe Jackson (co-founder of SOFT), Kojo Sam (Network Engineer), Solomon Da Costa (Tigo), +nana kofi koomson (233Times), Sia German (IPMC), etc.

Register/RSVP today at theBarCamp Takoradi eventbrite website (barcamptakoradi14.eventbrite.com). You can also register by sending “Barcamp Takoradi, Your Name, Your Email Address” to 1945 on all mobile networks (example - Barcamp Takoradi Esi Eshun esi@eshun.co) . Contact us via barcamp at ghanathink dot org for sponsorship or partnership opportunities. Barcamp Takoradi is supported by Takoradi Poly NSBE, Reach for Change, Curious Minds Ghana, Nandimobile, Empire 102.7 FM, Melody 91.1 FM, Spy Ghana.

Stay tuned via our social media.Twitter |Facebook|Google+

I first learnt about Jumia via a billboard in Lagos (on the main bridge connecting the island and the mainlands) sometime in 2013. I was in Las Gidi working with external and internal clients for Rancard. Given what we know about putting billboards and their costs, I was giddy about seeing these - for an ecommerce website nonetheless. I later found out it was a ‘popular’ website for Nigerians to buy items online. Amazon for Nigeria. This month, still Africa’s leading online retailer, Jumia, launched in Ghana. Ghana is the latest African country Jumia is operating in. Akwaaba,Jumia.

Jumia first launched in 2012 and has already successfully brought e-commerce to Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Uganda and Cameroon. If you know more about Jumia, you know it’s actually managed by Rocket Internet, one of the most aggressive tech companies worldwide. With German type efficiency and American type aggression and African type resourcefulness, Jumia is growing at a fast pace. I fully expect it to ramp up quickly in Ghana and be a major player in the space here shortly. So don’t be surprised when you see their billboards in town. Actually, I will not be surprised if we don’t see their billboards in town. Maybe they’ll do more BTL this time, then ATL. (below-the-line, above-the-line advertising.

Jumia is part of Africa Internet Holding’s portfolio. AIH is the parent group of nine successful and fast-growing companies in more than 20 African countries, accounting for over 3000 staff. That’s a lot of IT jobs right there, which has been a major discussion point in the ongoing Innovation Month in Ghana. AIH’s network of companies includes JUMIA, Kaymu, Hellofood, Lamudi, Carmudi, Zando, Jovago, Lendico and Easy Taxi. Easy Taxi is a popular service amongst people in my network. HelloFood is patronized here and Lamudi has been making some good waves.

https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif

One of the most impressive things about Jumia is that they have their own warehouses and delivery teams. They have recently turned on a variety of payment options including cash on delivery, credit card and mobile money as well - closing the loop on e-commerce and payments. Jumia has adapted the global megatrend for African consumers and won the trust of a large and constantly growing customer base. I wasn’t surprised when I realised they were among the first cohort of companies in Stanford SEED’s West Africa program, hosted in Accra when I attended the launch.

According to a 2013 report by good old McKinsey, Ghana has 3.5 million internet users and an internet penetration rate of 55% in urban areas, while a quarter of city residents go online daily, the second-highest rate in Africa. To do what exactly, I’d love to know. A quarter is impressive, and will be more meaningful when we collectively go online and do more than communicate amongst ourselves. I must add my favorite stat - Ghana also has more mobile users than people. That means a whole lot of people accessing Jumia will be via the phone. Being mobile responsive cannot be underrated. At all at all at all.

Temitope Abereoje is the Country Manager for Jumia Ghana. I will forgive you if you thought of Nigerian aggression. But believe you me, the Jumia Ghana team will operate Ghana with a lot of insight, while borrowing from best practices elsewhere. In a press statement, Temitope said: “This is another exciting step for Jumia. We are confident that Ghanaians will embrace the opportunity to shop easily and conveniently online, and are committed to maintaining our high standards of security, great value and fantastic service as we continue to expand across the continent.”

In spite of the cedi’s troubles, Ghana is still one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, with a GDP of $37 billion. If the masses thronging the new mall in Accra is anything to go by, it is proven that Ghanaians have an increasing purchasing power and are in a position to begin taking full advantage of online services. These point to a great market for Jumia to thrive in and Ghanaians to gain more value from being online. But you can stop reading from me now. Here are some other testimonials. Go on, select an item, register your order and get it delivered anywhere in Ghana.

I sit in my father's home office in Kumasi as I type this blog post. +Barcamp Kasoa is tomorrow morning. I won't be there. I'll be in Kumasi like I was today for my sister +Stacey Mensah's engagement. She gets married tomorrow and aside collecting 'akonta sekan' amongst other things, I have to emcee the reception. Just like I did for Tracey Mensah's wedding which fell on the same day as Barcamp Ashesi. I trust the +Barcamp Kasoa organizing team, ably supported by the +Barcamp Ghana team, to hold a successful Barcamp tomorrow. This will be our 41st Barcamp, after +Barcamp Sunyani last weekend, which was the 40th. Go, +GhanaThink Foundation, go!

Barcamp Kasoa was born out of the initiative of +Elorm Billy-Awittor & +Mawuli Tsikata who wanted to bring the Barcamp goodness to Kasoa. The first event faced a number of challenges, including the serious thought of considering having it at Methodist University College with the help of the +GDG Methodist University College Ghana, especially +Raindolf Owusu & +Jeffery Abas. Elorm & Mawuli were supported by +krystabel vorsah, +Emelia Agblevor and +Edmund Laryea, and the first Barcamp Kasoa happened in April 2013. +jennepha omueti who attended that event and +Danshiki Lapido joined the team this year. I'm excited to see how Elorm, Krystabel, Emelia, Edmund, Jennifer, Danshiki work with the +Barcamp Ghana team members - +kofi yeboah +Leonard Hagan and +Senam Aseye Bridget.

Kasoa is growing steadily and now there is also the presence of the West Hills Mall. I know it's in Weija, but we can't discount how it will affect Kasoa. The Kasoa interchange is also in the works. There's so much to discuss in contributing a healthy market for business in Kasoa. Join us to discuss this at the event or via the hashtag #bckasoa. Read the press release below to learn more.

BarCamp Kasoa 2014 is a free networking event to bring people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue about Kasoa, Ghana and beyond. This event would take place on November 29, 2014 at Hase International School, Kasoa. The theme is 'Contributing to a healthy market for business'. This 2nd Barcamp Kasoa event will be the 41st Barcamp in Ghana. This is part of the Barcamp Ghana program run by theGhanaThink Foundation, building a network of changemakers, doers and entrepreneurs.

At Barcamp Kasoa, we will discuss ways to make Kasoa a more attractive place to do business with a focus on health and sanitary conditions. We would discuss the present state of Kasoa, its emerging growth and how it will be affected by the many projects happening around it. We would also discuss how Kasoa and its surrounding areas can be positively affected by youth and how the youth can tap into the many opportunities around them. “Many young people have innovative ideas that needs funding and mentorship support, that is our focus for Barcamp Kasoa”, says Kofi Yeboah - Barcamp Ghana lead, “we want to bring together mentors and agencies that fun ideas to be under one umbrella”.

Barcamp Kasoa will feature a team from Ushahidi in Kenya, which will discuss Making All Voices Count, an international initiative that contributes towards effective governance and accountability by enabling citizen engagement and open, responsive government in 12 countries in Africa and Asia. The consortium is seeking additional innovative ideas for funding as well as an opportunity to learn from current actors across various fields in Ghana. Reach for Change is organizing a Digital Changemakers competition sponsored by Tigo. Come learn more about these opportunities at Barcamp Kasoa!

Thought and business leaders in various areas will share insight and inspiration. As usual, we will have multiple user-generated breakout sessions about topics relevant to Kasoa and beyond. Our speed mentoring session will help participants gain insights and answers to questions. Our confirmed resource personnel include +Monica Nthiga ( +Ushahidi), +Francis Addai (Rancard), Awura Abena Agyeman ( +WEAR Ghana GHANA ), +Angorkor Nai-Kwade (WEAR Ghana), +George Anti (Concerned Ghanaians for Responsible Governance), Samuel Agyemang-Prempeh (WEAR Purple), +Derek Bossman ( +AdsBrook), +Gerard Yitamkey ( +Ahonya.com), +Sam Dogbatse (Reach for Change), +Kwaku David ( +Kwaku DavidPhotography) etc.

Register at Barcamp Kasoa Eventbrite site. You can also register by sending “Barcamp Kasoa, Your Name, Your Email Address” to 1945 on all mobile networks.(example - Barcamp Kasoa Esi Eshun esi@eshun.co). Contact us via barcamp at www.ghanathink.org for sponsorship or partnership opportunities. Barcamp Kasoa 2014 is supported by Making All Voices Count, mPedigree GoldKeys, Saazaa Shoes, +Reach for Change, Nandimobile, +Inform Ghana, +BloggingGhana. Our media partners are +Spy Ghana, XFM, Radio Universe,+CitiFM Fanpage.

Stay tuned via our social media. Hashtag is #bckasoa.Twitter |Facebook |Google+

Today, I was on TV3's New Day morning show talking about the +Ghana Volunteer Program. I went with +Dieu-Donne Gameli who organized an NVDay activity this year, as well as Utopia Wishlist's +Kofi Asare Aboagye who organized NVDay activities last year and this year. Bridget Otoo asked us some great questions, especially about +GhanaThink Foundation too. Many thanks to +nana aba Anamoah who set up this interview. On this occasion of International Volunteer Day, the GVP team is using this opportunity to promote volunteerism in Ghana and account for its work so far. You can read more about this from our press release below.

Aside our TV3 interview, we have a lot of media engagement as part of the anniversary. +William Osilaja Boampong of the GVP team was joined by +klenam fiadzoe, an NVDay14 activity organizer with the Rotaract Club of Accra South, interviewed by +Benkoku Avle. The GVP lead +Ela Asare was joined by team member +krystabel vorsah and Chris of the CSR Hub on Live 91.9 FM. +duncan qwame, a GhanaThink member passionate about volunteerism was interviewed by +Kwaku David on XFM 95.1, joined by +Rita Kusi who also organized an NVDay activity this year in conjunction with Klenam's group.

In Kumasi, +Baaba Forster-Forson of the +Creativity Group and +maame ama tuFfet of #One4TheKids were interviewed on Focus 94.3 FM about today's subject matter, pertaining to what they did in Kumasi this year. In Ho, +Barcamp Ho members +Elvis Bomasah & +Courage Christson Tetteh were interviewed by Kuul 103.5 FM about NVDay in the Volta region. +Barcamp Tamale's +maccarthy lomotey was joined by +Ruka Yaro & +portia dery on Bishara Radio to talk about NVDay activities in Tamale this year. +Jon Mydaz will be

See the full press release via the GhanaThink website. A few highlights of that are below.

GhanaThink's Ghana Volunteer Program (GVP) is marking one year since it’s inception. As some of you might be aware of, the National Volunteer Day Initiative (NVDay) which started on September 21, 2013, metamorphosed into GVP and was launched on the 5th of December 2013 - International Volunteer Day - across social media and traditional media.

The focus of GVP at present is to acquire volunteers for volunteer opportunities around Ghana. GVP also helps volunteer activity organizers find volunteers. This program seeks to encourage volunteerism in Ghana, and to market and make attractive volunteer activities. In furtherance of this focus, in 2014, GVP sourced for Volunteers for three events namely: Dain Agribusiness Workshop,Chale Wote Street Art Festival,Lifebuoy Global Handwashing day.

The second National Volunteer Day spanned across from 20th - 22nd September. Volunteers used the holiday and weekend to create, support and join volunteer activities. Many people joined to volunteer in GH for NVDay14. About 80 activities were documented, in 8 of our 10 regions and this involved 1,022 volunteers. There was a lot of online and offline engagement and publicity before, during and after these activities. Reactions and feedback were captured via Storify.

On the occasion of 2014’s International Volunteer Day, the GVP team engages the media all over Ghana discussing the work done so far under the program and what the future plans are for our nation. Through these engagements, we will encourage more people to do community service within Ghana. The GVP lead, Eleanor Asare commented: “The volunteer spirit is the same our founding fathers engendered within our citizenry. We would be cherishing the ideals of founding Ghana and joining a national effort to work for Ghana”. Volunteering demonstrates initiative and hard work, two ideals that many organizations look for while hiring. The GVP team and all of GhanaThink believes that by volunteering, volunteers would be building their CVs and experience.

It's been a busy year for the +Barcamp Ghana program. On Saturday, we have our 14th Barcamp this year, which will also be the 8th Barcamp in Accra, since 2008. Barcamp Accra 2014 is a free networking forum where people will learn from, share and network with each other. It's a place for you to get inspired, motivated, connected, learn about opportunities, learn, share, promote in a fun environment. You won't get the full picture until you come. Or check out some photos. We've championed people starting up, making change, doing and being entreprising. For this Barcamp, we'll focus on how to grow what has been started and is doing well. Go on, register here!

The +Barcamp Accra team has seen a lot of changes, and this is also mostly because the +GhanaThink Foundation is growing. Folks move on to new roles, responsibilities, etc. As such this year's team is pretty new. In fact, most of the core team was not directly involved in organizing Barcamp Accra 2013. +nii nai-kwade is now our coordinator, while +Bubune Sorkpor focuses on our resource personnel. What a lineup of mentors we have! +duncan qwame joins from the +Barcamp Koforidua team, as well as +Andrews Otoo from the +Barcamp Cape Coast team. +Barcamp Kumasi's +Yayra Tay, while transitioning to help keep a sane structure for GhanaThink, is on the team, joined by +Nana Fynn Class-Peters from the +Barcamp Takoradi team. +Atitsogbui Patrick Keli is a new member, rounding up the core team with +Watson Bedzrah. The +Barcamp Ghana team members +kofi yeboah +Leonard Hagan +Senam Aseye Bridget +Kobe Subramaniam and +Rachel Hormeku are playing their supporting roles as well. We foresee many Barcamps around Accra next year. If you want to organize one, contact any of them.

We've seen many startups win local and international awards, especially this year. We're looking to celebrate a lot of them. A lot of things have also happened in 2014 around Ghana. We'll find a way to incorporate a lot of them at the Barcamp. It's the end of year shindig for positive change in Ghana. You don't want to miss it. Join us to discuss this at the event or via the hashtag #bcaccra. Read the press release below to learn more.

BarCamp Accra 2014 is a free networking event to bring people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue about Accra, Ghana and beyond. The event shall be held on December 20 at Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology. The theme is also “Expanding Excellent Entreprises”. This Barcamp event will be the 42nd organized by theGhanaThink Foundation, as part of itsBarcamp Ghana program which is building a network of change makers, doers and entrepreneurs.

GhanaThink celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over the 6 years of Barcamps in Ghana, we've championed 'starting up'. We've seen the creation of many Ghanaian-owned entreprises. Now, we need to see these entreprises grow. At Barcamp Accra, we will discuss, in interactive sessions, what some Ghanaian entreprises are doing well and how they can expand. We'll cap off the day with breakout sessions.

There will also be the popular speed mentoring sessions with many inspirational people. Confirmed mentors include Bridget Otoo (TV3), +Rosy Fynn (Surfline), +Anima Misa Amoah (Sapphire Productions), Gifty Bingley (Tigo), +Afua Ankomah (Open Data), Stephanie Aboagye (EY), +Tanko Mohammed (GNFoods), +Kwabena Poku (MediaPop), Inna Patty (MissGhana), +Christabel Dadzie (Ahaspora), +Alex Adjei Bram - [SMSGH] (SMS GH), +selorm branttie (mPedigree), +Anita Erskine (Viasat1), +Nana Yaw Asiedu (Oxford & Beaumont), +Caroline Sampson (YFM & ETV), +Raja Owusu-Ansah (Republic), +Regina Agyare (TechNeedsGirls), Hamdiya Ismaila (Venture Capital Ghana), +Franklin Cudjoe (IMANI Ghana), +Esi ! Ansah (Axis HCL), +Godwin Etse Sikanku (Legon), +Beryl Agyekum (Echo Haus), etc.

Register athttp://barcampaccra14.eventbrite.com/. You can also register by sending “Barcamp Accra Your Name Your Email Address” to 1945 (example - Barcamp Accra Esi Eshun esi@eshun.co) . Contact us via barcamp at www.ghanathink.org for sponsorship or partnership opportunities.

Barcamp Accra is supported by the +Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, +Making All Voices Count, +Kimathi Kuenyehia Foundation, SMS GH, mPedigree, +Saazaa Shoes, +Surfline GH, Nandimobile. Our media partners are +Spy Ghana, Modern Ghana, Echo Haus, +TV3 NETWORK LIMITED GHANA, +viasat ghana, +Citi97.3FM, Y 107.9 FM, and X 95.1 FM.

Check out Barcamp Accra onTwitter |Facebook | Google+

Appliquer Pour la Tech Camp Ouest Africaine avant son échéance imminente

Excited about Barcamp Tamale on August 23, 2014

Kreating Kumasi Konnect

Growing Kumasi Konnect (team, initiative and events)

How did you hear about THIS (Barcamp Ghana) event?

Participate in National Volunteer Day around September 21 #NVDay14

The 4th Barcamp Cape Coast is here! Check #bccapecoast for upates

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The first Barcamp Bolga is here! #BcBolga

Global Handwashing Day today - prevention is better than cure

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Ato Ulzen-Appiah's profile

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Submit your old or new app to the Vodafone #AppStarGH competition

10000+ reasons for you to submit your app to Vodafone Appstar, by November 21st

The 3rd Barcamp Takoradi is finally here! #bctdi

Wherever you are in Ghana, Jumia is here for you

The 2nd Barcamp Kasoa is finally here! #bckasoa

Marking International Volunteer Day in Ghana via #volunteeringh

The Father Christmas of Barcamps in Ghana is here - Barcamp Accra 2014!