Team Beta triumphs in 36hour hackathon by Ghana Statistical Service and Statistics Denmark
In a successful showcase of innovation and data utilization, Team Beta emerged as the victors of a 36-hour hackathon organized by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in collaboration with Statistics Denmark.
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The event, which climaxed on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at the University of Ghana, saw students from the institution leveraging data from the GSS StatsBank to craft diverse solutions.
Competing against five other groups from the University of Ghana, Team Beta secured their victory by presenting impressive outcomes using the provided data. The second and third positions were secured by Data Geniuses and Brocode, respectively. For their commendable efforts, Team Beta was rewarded with GH₵5,000, while Data Geniuses and Brocode received GH₵2,000 and GH₵1,000 respectively.
Mr. Simon Onilimor, a data scientist serving as one of the judges, highlighted the criteria for evaluation, emphasizing the importance of practicality and aesthetic appeal in the utilization of data.
Speaking on the significance of the collaboration, Mr. Jesper Ellemose Jensen, the project lead for the partnership between Statistics Denmark and GSS, stressed the importance of accessible data for the development and advancement of Ghana. He expressed the hope that such events would inspire more Ghanaians, particularly students, to harness the potential of data for various purposes.
The hackathon series will continue across several universities, including the University of Cape Coast, the University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University for Development Studies. The inter-university contest will culminate in a national hackathon on October 5-6, 2023, where the overall winner will receive a substantial cash prize of GHS20,000.
These hackathon events aim to amplify awareness of the GSS StatsBank and stimulate the use of census data for research that informs policies. Additionally, the University of Ghana's StatsBank Hackathon provides students with unique opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and the honing of team-building skills.
The ultimate victor from the University of Ghana will go on to compete against winners from other universities in the forthcoming national hackathon scheduled for October 5-6, 2023.
The Introduction of the StatsBank
The Ghana Statistical Service introduced the GSS StatsBank, an online database enabling access to disaggregated census statistics for the first time. Launched on April 27, 2023, the GSS StatsBank contains a vast collection of over 300 million unique statistics extracted from published 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) reports. This platform empowers users to create tailored tables and maps at both national and sub-national levels at no cost.
The development of the GSS StatsBank exemplifies the GSS's commitment to leveraging innovative and user-friendly methods for disseminating insights from Ghana's fully digital 2021 census. This initiative seeks to promote the practical application of census data for informed decision-making. Accessible at https://statsbank.statsghana.gov.gh, the platform also includes the Census Atlas, which utilizes maps to present district-level indicators from the census. The Census Atlas can be accessed at https://phc-geospatial-results.netlify.app/.