Ghana’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) ecosystem delivered stories that show how research, policy, and innovation increasingly shape health, jobs, education, and quality of life. This week’s STEM News round up highlights 8 stories across artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability & space science
1. PRESEC‑Legon Alumnus Wins International Award for AI‑Based Breast Cancer Detection
Source: CitiNewsroom
What happened
Odadeɛ Benjamin Nketsiah, a former student of Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC‑Legon) and a 2020 National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) champion, won an international award at Michigan State University (USA) for his AI‑powered breast cancer detection project, She’s Strong. The project focuses on triple‑negative breast cancer, an aggressive and difficult‑to‑treat form of the disease. He received USD 1,000 toward his tuition.
She’s Strong uses an AI‑driven risk assessment tool built on the clinically validated Tyrer–Cuzick model to help make early diagnosis. Users answer health‑related questions, and the system classifies their risk as low, medium, or high. The platform can store symptoms, link users to local clinicians, and provide medically accurate responses.
Why it matters
Triple‑negative breast cancer is particularly common in West Africa and does not respond to common hormone‑based treatments. Early detection can save lives. This innovation shows how locally driven science and artificial intelligence can improve early risk awareness, speed up referrals, and potentially improve survival—especially where access to specialised screening is limited.
2. UNICEF Ghana Selects 20 Tech Startups for Social Impact Lab
Source: UNICEF Ghana
What happened
Twenty Ghanaian startups were selected into a UNICEF‑supported accelerator programme focused on education, health, climate action, and financial inclusion.
Why it matters
This initiative turns innovation into real‑world impact. Instead of technology serving only investors or elite users, these startups aim to improve children’s wellbeing, access to services, and resilience to climate and economic shocks.
3. Less Hunger, More Environmental Pressure? Diet Study Explores Health–Climate Trade‑offs
Source: EurekAlert!
What happened
Researchers from the University of Bonn and the University of Ghana analysed dietary data from nearly 18,000 households across Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. The study examined how rising incomes and urbanisation are shifting diets toward Western‑style eating patterns,
Th study found that:
- Poorer households have lower environmental footprints, largely because they eat less and consume fewer animal products.
- Increased consumption of animal‑sourced foods improves nutrition and micronutrient intake.
- However, high intakes of meat and processed foods significantly increase greenhouse‑gas emissions and land use.
Why it matters
While improving nutrition is essential in regions facing undernutrition, copying Western diets wholesale could worsen climate change. The key message is balance: what we eat affects both our health and the planet, and food systems must be shaped to local realities.
4. Blood Protein Linked to Higher Future Risk of Kidney Disease in Ghanaians
Source: University of Ghana
What happened
A long‑term study following Ghanaian adults found that elevated levels of ferritin, a blood protein linked to inflammation, were associated with a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) over six years.
Why it matters
CKD often develops silently and is costly to treat when detected late. This research suggests that a simple, routine blood test could help identify people at higher risk earlier—supporting prevention rather than late‑stage treatment.
5. Mobile Connectivity in Ghana Surpasses Population Size
Source: ModernGhana
What happened
Ghana’s active mobile phone lines have exceeded 100% population penetration, with over 38 million subscriptions nationwide.
Why it matters
High connectivity supports digital innovation—from mobile banking and e‑commerce to telemedicine and e‑learning—making essential services more accessible across urban and rural areas.
6. UENR Ghana and Gabon’s AGEOS Partner to Train Africa’s Space Scientists
Source: Space in Africa
What happened
The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Ghana and Gabon’s AGEOS signed a three‑year MoU enabling AGEOS scientists to pursue MSc, MPhil, and PhD training at UENR through a shared‑cost arrangement.
Why it matters
Space science supports weather forecasting, disaster management, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Training African scientists within Africa strengthens regional expertise and reduces reliance on external partners for critical climate and satellite data.
7. University of Johannesburg Partners with Ghana’s Water Resources Commission
Source: University of Johannesburg News
What happened
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) signed a three‑year MoU with Ghana’s Water Resources Commission (WRC) to collaborate on research, innovation, and training in water management and sustainability.
Why it matters
Safe water underpins health and economic development. Joint research on water treatment, quality, and infrastructure can directly improve access to clean drinking water, especially under climate pressure.
8. One in Four Adult Men in Ghana Are Overweight or Obese, Study Finds
Source: Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
What happened
Researchers analysed national survey data from over 8,000 Ghanaian men aged 20–59 years to examine patterns of malnutrition. Risk factors were affected by age, marriage, higher education, wealth & urban life styles
Why it matters
The research shows 25.3% of adult men are overweight or obese: Malnutrition in Ghana now includes both undernutrition and excess weight. Rising overweight and obesity increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, with long‑term implications for healthcare costs and productivity.