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West Africa’s biggest hackathon comes to Ghana this weekend, courtesy of Facebook

Hack for Big Choices, a US-based non profit organisation, has announced a partnership with big international corporations including Facebook and WordPress to bring what they’re calling the biggest hackathon in West Africa to Ghana this weekend.

Young Ghanaians with skills and innovative ideas that will contribute to social change and solving worldwide community issues, are invited to sign up for the free event to be hosted at the Hub Accra startup incubator space. Participants don’t have to have extensive experience or background knowledge in coding, tech or entrepreneurship.

Other event sponsors include The US Embassy, Internet.org, the World Economic Forum, Leading Ladies Network, SliceBiz, Elevate Africa and the United States Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Mentors, local business leaders, professors, politicians, representatives from Facebook, WordPress and the US embassy will work together with participants to advise and guide them during the process.

Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) has come on board committed to bringing along a few of its students to take part in the hackathon.

The hackathon not only aims to birth new solutions, but also help unearth a new wave of startups in Ghana and the rest of West Africa.

“Instead of creating need-based businesses with short-term solutions, we ask: what if these emerging entrepreneurs could stay focused on creating innovations that potentially have longer term benefits to their communities?”, explains the Hub Accra team.

“We want participants to leave with a new confidence that will push them to go out and start their own businesses or to chase after their dream job. We hope that the hackathon will “stir the pot” and that out of it will come a new local innovations, businesses and jobs,” says Aurora Chisté, co-founder of Hack for Big Choices.

Participants must develop solutions under one of the following three categories:

  • Health and sanitation
  • Design and technology
  • Education

The event will run right up through to Sunday, sleeping and bathroom facilities will be available and food and drinks will be supplied.

Judges expect viable solutions to real problems that can be implemented or executed once the hackathon is over. Participants will get to present the most complete version of the business they intend to launch. It can be a prototype, a business plan, a detailed presentation or minimum viable products (hardware and software).

The best ideas will be awarded with prizes and the chance to be developed into working solutions.

Register to get your free ticket on ego tickets and visit the Hack for Big Choices website to get more information including the list of speakers, judges and event agenda.

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