Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) has emerged as the winner of the 2026 Women in Engineering (WiNE) Affair competition. The university developed a smart emergency communication system designed to detect floods and help emergency responders locate people in danger. The competition, organized under the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), brought together female engineering students to develop innovative solutions to challenges affecting communities.
BTU beat 18 other participating tertiary institutions, including Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University for Development Studies (UDS), and the University of Ghana, to claim the top prize. The university received a trophy and a cash prize of GH¢20,000 for its winning project, Smart Emergency Communication System with Flood Monitoring.
The innovation is designed to automatically detect flooding and send emergency alerts, including GPS location information, to assist agencies such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana National Fire Service in responding to emergencies. This system was developed in response to recurring floods in Ghana, which have caused deaths, displaced residents, and damaged properties in several communities.
Aurelia Ayamdor, a lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering who led the BTU team, explained that the system was designed to help emergency responders identify the locations of people trapped during flooding. The device can communicate with respondents, such as the fire service and NADMO, to help save lives.
Madam Ayamdor attributed the team's success to its determination and preparation ahead of the competition. She urged university management to invest more in practical engineering activities, particularly initiatives that encourage women to develop technical skills and pursue careers in engineering.
The Dean of BTU's School of Engineering, Eng. Dr. George Alexander Dordah, said the achievement demonstrated the ability of students to apply classroom knowledge to practical challenges confronting society. He explained that the system was designed to detect flooding and transmit alerts without requiring someone to manually activate it.
The Students' Representative Council (SRC) President, Kenneth Atonka Nsoyine, congratulated the team, describing the achievement as a reflection of the students' dedication and teamwork. The university will continue to emphasize practical training that enables students to develop solutions to challenges facing communities and industry.
Key points
- Bolgatanga Technical University wins top prize in 2026 Women in Engineering competition.
- The winning project, Smart Emergency Communication System with Flood Monitoring, was designed to detect floods and help emergency responders locate people in danger.
- The achievement demonstrates the ability of BTU students to apply classroom knowledge to practical challenges confronting society.
