A team from the University of Ghana took home the Green Development Award at the Huawei Global ICT Competition by creating an AI-powered system to fight deforestation in Ghana’s forests.
Meet the Team
The winning group included Wisdom Nana-Abena Ogbonna, Ryan Nii Akwei Brown, and Jehoaddan Ebrah Andoh. Under the guidance of their lecturer, Mr. Julius Ludu, they built “Climate Sentinel,” an AI and Internet of Things system designed to monitor forest reserves in real time.
Why “Climate Sentinel” Matters
After reading that nine of Ghana’s forty-four forest reserves have been overtaken by illegal miners, the students decided to tackle the problem with technology. Their system uses:
- IoT Sensors placed throughout forest areas to collect data on sound, motion, and environmental changes
- AI Algorithms that analyse sensor data in the cloud to spot signs of tree cutting or encroachment
- Real-Time Alerts to notify rangers and local authorities when potential deforestation activity is detected
By combining cloud computing, big data, and AI, the team built a monitoring network that can cover large areas and send instant warnings, giving forest managers the chance to respond before damage spreads.
A Global Stage for Innovation
This year’s Huawei ICT Competition saw a record 210,000 participants from over 2,000 universities in more than 100 countries.
- Teams first qualified at national and regional levels across three tracks: Practice, Innovation, and Programming
- The Ghanaian group placed second in the Innovation track regionally, earning a spot in the Global Finals in China
- In the finals, they stood out for their green development focus and won the Green Development Award
Voices of Support
Professor Ebenezer Owusu, Head of the Computer Science Department at the University of Ghana, praised Huawei for giving students a platform to apply ICT skills in real-world problems. He said the competition helps students build teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and hands-on expertise.
Ritchie Peng, Director of ICT Strategy and Business Development at Huawei, noted that the Innovation track aims to drive green development and digital inclusion. He explained that topics evolve each year to match emerging needs in areas like agriculture, healthcare, and education.
About the Huawei ICT Competition
Since 2015, this annual contest has offered students and instructors a chance to deepen their ICT knowledge, improve practical skills, and share ideas across borders. Recognized by UNESCO’s Global Skills Academy, it continues to prepare talent for the challenges of digital transformation.
