BY: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
The second edition of the Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Applications (APPS) Challenge Awards which was set out to help identify and also unearth the local mobile apps developers in the country has successfully taken place in Accra .
The competition, which seeks to harness local talent in developing software applications, and to provide developers a unique platform to market their applications by exciting them with attractive prize packages, also aims to help produce relevant local content to mobile phone users.
In a speech read by Mrs. Cynthia Lumor on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana Mr. Serame Taukobong , during the Apps Challenge Version 2.0 awards night ceremony held in Accra, he noted that in today’s digital economy, billions of apps are being downloaded daily around the world .
This he said as the leading mobile communications company in Ghana, there was the need for them to ensure that Ghana plays a significant role in the industry.
“MTN recognizes the importance of using technology as a tool to promote human development. Today, applications play a big role in all aspects of our lives” he emphasized.
According to him, the MTN Apps Challenge for 2014 was geared towards the search for mobile applications, focusing on education, lifestyle, games and entertainment.
He said, the Version 2.0 of the MTN Apps Challenge attracted 100 Apps mainly from developers from the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central region.
“This he said all the apps received were scrutinized by distinguished experts who were drawn from the telecoms industry and from academia. Entries were then assessed based on innovation, functionality and commercial viability. The apps were shortlisted to the top 20 and then the final winner was selected” he explained.
Eventually, Nana Ekow. Taylor, Elvis Agah and Henk Opong the founders Buzztrick Apps emerged as the overall winners for MTN Apps Challenge version 2.0. However, this year’s edition of the apps Challenge saw overall winner receiving a cash prize of twenty thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC20, 000.00) while each category winner received a cash prize of fifteen thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC15, 000.00)
In the Education category, Lovell Larbie, emerged as the Gold Winner, Richard Duodo as the Silver Winner and Adu Kwabena, and Jesse Cofie as Bronze Winners.
In the Games & Entertainment category, Isaac Onwukwe and Wilfred Attipoe emerged as Gold Winners, while Nana Ghartey and Delali Vorgbe emerged as Silver and Bronze Winners, respectively.
Lifestyle, the third category of the competition, saw Nana Ekow Taylor, Elvis Agah and Henk Oppong emerging as Gold Winners while Stefan Froelich came second to win silver and Christian Pels and Kofi Akuoko coming third to win Bronze.
