Category: Tech News

With 10 years experience training and mentoring Africa startups and entrepreneurs, Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is set to hold the second edition of its MEST Africa Challenge.

First held in 2018, MEST Africa is a Pan-African startup pitch contest.

The contest is targeted at startups that already have revenue bases and are looking to expand to other markets. The competition targets startups located in African countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

With this focus, MEST Africa Challenge will run as a series of regional competitions that lead up to the main Challenge. Regional events will hold in locations like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Winners of the regional events will get the chance to pitch at the main event holding in Kenya in June 2019.

Meanwhile, the MEST Africa Challenge promises a host of benefits to startups. Importantly, the pitch contest promises a $50,000 equity investment for finalists. Finalists also get slots in MEST incubators anywhere in Africa.

The MEST Africa Challenge draws a lot of media attention and guests. Both types of audiences are key enablers of startup growth. Guests usually include a crowd of investors, entrepreneurs and other innovators. Last year, the judging panel at the main event was made up representatives from Facebook, MTN and even Meltwater, the organisers of MEST Africa.

Applications for this year’s competition is already open, and will close by February 15. Regional events are scheduled to hold as follows: Abidjan (28 February), Accra (27 February), Cape Town (28 February), Lagos (26 February) and Nairobi (27 February).

The MEST Africa Challenge is highly competitive and draws a large pool of startups. Last year, over 700 startups applied for the competition, but only 40 made it to the regional events though. This year, things may not be too different.

To apply, click here.

Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced a premium passport acquisition and processing service to help online passport applicants.

In order to do this the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened a premium passport acquisition and processing centre to assist online passport applicants.

According to Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the service will be implemented in partnership with VFS Ghana office and will be at an extra fee of GHS 50 ($10.29).

After touring the centre, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said the new facility and system is to offer the public an easier passport application process within a customer friendly environment.

“The Centre will employ modern technology in its service delivery, cater solely for online passport applications with a reasonable service charge in addition to the approved passport application fee of either GHS 50.00 (for standard applications) or GHS 100.00 (for express applications),” the Foreign Minister said.

Mrs Botchwey emphasized that “among the value-added services to be offered by the Application Centre will include access to Premium Lounge, assistance with the filling of application forms, website appointment system, call centre, and email help desk services”.

“Coming on board of the new Passport Application Centre is to basically complement the work of the existing Passport Application Centre. It is envisaged that the success of the new Passport Application Centre would lead to the extension of similar facilities across other regional capitals to ensure that every Ghanaian citizen is provided with the desired services in respect of passport acquisition,” she said.

The Country Representative of VFS Global in Ghana, Kofi Karikari Appau, said applicants have about two weeks to receive their passports at the premises of the Accra Digital Centre.

From phone companies copying Apple’s notch design to widely leaked pixel 3, 2018 came with its fair share of interesting mobile technology and with flagship phones being released every year, 2019 is likely to follow the same trend. From Mobile World Congress to Tech October, here are some of the most anticipated events of 2019.

Mobile World Congress

This is the hub where all good things mobile phones and accessories are showcased and it happens every year in Barcelona and this year is scheduled for the 25^th to the 28^th of February.

With so many leaks, perhaps the highlight of the show will be the Samsung Galaxy S10. With the hope of 3 models to be released and almost no bezels, the hype is well deserved. We would also see many phones with less and fewer bezels. Wearables also made their way to MWC and we might have Google watch or an update to Wear OS. Who knows?

Health Tech Summit

With the launch of smartwatches, the health sector has been revolutionized as heartbeats can be tracked almost all the time instead of once a month at the doctor’s and calorie intake and burn can be measured day by day just to name a few. Health Tech summit shows the world major advancements in this emerging tech zone and is definitely an event to keep an eye on.

Tech October

Tech October can be broken down into 3 companies: Apple, Google and Microsoft.

Microsoft

Each year Microsoft release its Surface Pro’s, Surface Laptops and the Surface books which have been received with much success and 2019 promises to be more exciting.

Apple

Not too much to be said here as this is probably what most people are waiting for. However, we would see whether Apple would still the notch and form factor of the iPhone Xs or change for a no notch form. We would also anticipate the new iPads and hopefully Airpods 2.

Google

Every year, the pixel holds the crown for the worlds best smartphone camera and we would see if this is the case for 2019. We would also see Android 10/Q rolling out and we live to see what new things it might bring. The Pixel slate might get a retouch or be discontinued, we never know.

Somewhere along the line, we might see Huawei bring out its weapons into the smartphone world. The Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro were well received and Huawei may just continue that trend.

Other companies to look out for are Oneplus and Xiaomi who always bring great budget phones into the market. Oneplus is reportedly working on a 5G phone which is definetely a phone to look out for. Gaming phones, which are a promising market may also have some new additions to their line-up and that will be great to see.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has advised Ghanaian passport applicants to use the online application service following complaints of a shortage of the paper-based (manual) passport Application Forms at commercial banks.

You can download the forms directly here: PDF Download: ghana-passport-form-online-free

Please note that this process is not the same as the online passport application, which we believe to be faster and more convenient.

https://mfidie.com/online-ghana-passport-application/

The online application service is part of an e-Government strategy, which is targeted at ensuring the use of information technology to provide citizens with efficient and effective passport services through a secure, fast and convenient means.

It is also aimed at injecting efficiency and reliability in passport service delivery and eliminate the existing difficulties that have bedevilled passport acquisition in Ghana.

In a statement issued in Accra on Thursday, November 1, 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has followed public concerns that there was a shortage of the manual forms in the system.

Statement from the Ministry of Finance

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has taken careful note of public concerns regarding Passport acquisition in the country and has therefore resolved as follows:

Passport Forms are NOW FREE – Get your Application Forms Online

A free Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the paper-based (Manual) Passport Application Form has been introduced to applicants on the Ministry’s Portal, Effective Thursday, November 1, 2018.

A free Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the paper-based (Manual) Passport Application Form has been introduced to applicants on the Ministry’s Portal, Effective Thursday, November 1, 2018.

The Introduction of the PDF Form is part of measures to make Passport Forms readily accessible to all Ghanaians. This completely eliminates middlemen popularly known as ‘Goro boys’ whose illegal activities have perpetuated bribery and corrupt activities in the passport acquisition processes. The PDF form will, therefore, replace the old paper-based application form.

https://mfidie.com/premium-ghana-passport-application-centre/

Steps to follow in accessing the PDF Form;

1. Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration website – www.mfa.gov.gh
2. Click on the Passport menu
3. Read instructions and click on download passport forms
4. Click on make payment and follow steps
5. A voucher PIN would be instantly sent to the applicant by a text message
6. The PIN should be written in the space provided on the printed form
7. Submit completed application form with relevant documents to preferred Passport Application Centre for processing
8. For further information or clarification please call +233 302 738 473

How to pay for Free Passport Form

The public is hereby to note that payment of the processing fee for the PDF form can only be made electronically and not through the banks as was done previously.

Payment can only be made by mobile money (MTN, Vodafone) and Visa or MasterCard. Application processing fee still remains at GHS 50 for regular and GHS 1OO for express.

Additionally, the new PDF application does not replace the already existing online Passport Application System which currently exists only at the Accra Passport Application Centres.

Is getting a Passport in Ghana Free?

The short answer is no. The passport application form which is in PDF is free to download. However, applicants still have to pay for processing fees which cost GHS 50 or GHS 100 for standard and express service respectively.

Conclusion

The Ministry explained that the introduction of the online version [PDF] forms part of measures to make passport forms readily accessible to all Ghanaians and that from November 1, 2018, more focus is on the online version.

Ghanaian-American fibre optics inventor, Dr Thomas Mensah has disclosed plans to train some 300,000 Senior High School students in Software development at the Silicon Valley of Ghana, recently launched at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT.

The software training programme, according to the tech savvy, will make the students competitive on the global stage and also help Ghana leapfrog other countries in the years to come.

He said, Dubai and UAE are training 1 million High School Students in Software, hence the need for Ghana to take inspiration from these countries.

To this effect, Dr. Mensah is working with the Ambassador of Ghana to China, His Excellency Edward Boateng to bring Tech Companies in China like Alibaba and Baidu and others to the Silicon Valley of Ghana.

The scientist who has already attracted internet giants from the West, Apple Computer, Google and Microsoft to Silicon Valley of Ghana, wants to bring on board, Chinese companies so as to bring diversity to the centre.

Dr. Mensah was impressed by the fact that China has moved 600 million people out of poverty and 300 million into Middle Class through Technology and Industrialization, making the country a very attractive model for transforming Africa.

Ghana has also secured among other things an Agreement with the Trucking Company to set up an Assembly plant in the country.

This is significant since Ghana has already secured an automobile assembly plant by Volks Wagon when Chancellor Angela Merkel recently visited the country.

Dr. Thomas Mensah, made these known when he joined the Presidential Business Delegation led by His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo to the 2018 Africa Business Forum in Beijin.

He was pleased to meet His Excellency Edward Boateng who organized the Program in China for the delegation.

Dr. Mensah said President Akufo-Addo made an excellent choice when he appointed Edward Boateng as Ambassador to China.

He said Ambassador Boateng is well liked and respected by African Americans and Africans in the US.

President Akufo-Addo also praised the Ambassador for his effort in organising the China Africa Forum 2018.

The China Africa Forum takes place in every three years and focuses on close collaboration between countries in Africa and China as part of China’s Global Silk Road Program.

Infrastructure development, Investment, Industrial Development, Technology transfer, capacity building and Global Trade are foundations of this collaboration.

Ghana’s delegation to the event was led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

This year’s event saw heavy Private Sector participation from Ghana alongside Government Cabinet Ministers and Agencies making it more successful unlike the event in 2015 which did not include Private Sector Leaders and Top Scientists.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremateng, Railway Minister Joe Gartey, Roads and Transportation Minister, Amoako Atta, Minister for Agriculture, Owusu Afriyie were part of the delegation.

Members of the delegation from the Presidency were, Nana Bediatuo – Executive Secretary, Deputy Chief of Staff, Boakye Asenso -Director of Protocol at the Presidency and Ambassador Amid Hassan.

Finance sector players who joined the team were,Chairman of Ghana EXIM Bank, Gyemfi Boateng, Board Member Peter Abebrese and the CEO of EXIM as well as the CEO of Ghana Commercial Bank, Mr. Ray Sowah.

The Ambassador of Ghana to China His Excellency Edward Boateng worked closely GIPC – Ghana investment Promotion Council, Hon. Yofi Grant and the Chairman of Association of Industry in Ghana Dr. Adu Gyamfi as well as the China’s Ambassador to Ghana to implement this visit.

The 2018 forum has been touted as one of the most Successful China Business Forum Ever because of the Leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo and the Caliber of the expert members participating on the Presidential Delegation.

There were 50 Heads of States from Africa, who attended China Africa Forum 2018, and the President of China His Excellency Xi Jin Ping who is the Convener of the conference pledged $60 Billion to African Countries for Infrastructure Development and Modernization.

This is equivalent to the Marshall Plan Investment by the US for rebuilding Germany after the World War II that turned Germany into the leading Economic Power in Europe.

As the world leading Scientific Expert Dr. Thomas Mensah was pleased with the Conference that included the Bullet Train ride by the President and the Delegation from Beijin to Shandong the most industrialized Province China.

His Excellency Nana Addo discussed many collaboration and Technology Transfer initiatives with the Governor of this Province. Industry Visit and Business to Business Meetings were part of the Conference.