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Vodafone Ghana is set to launch its annual Hackathon event this month to empower and promote the growing App developer community in Ghana.

The three-day programme, in its second year, focuses on unearthing talents in the “mobile app” development sector in Ghana whiles projecting Vodafone as an undisputed leader in innovation and advancement in the telecoms sector in Ghana. 

The programme, which begins on Thursday, February 17, 2016, is on the theme, “A cash-lite society in Africa – powered by Vodafone Cash” and will focus on formatting solutions that will lead to the development of platforms to enhance the drive towards a cash-lite society in Africa.

The advent of mobile money in Africa, inspired by M-PESA [a product developed by Vodafone (Safaricom) in Kenya] has become the benchmark for a journey towards a society that relies heavily on mobile financial solutions. 

Vodafone Ghana hopes to use this year’s Hackathon to raise awareness and, most importantly, provide answers to how a cash-lite Africa can be achieved. 

Commenting ahead of the event, Julius Owusu-Kyerematen, Director of Strategy and Innovation at Vodafone Ghana said:

“For us at Vodafone, we share the view that Hackathons are gradually becoming commonplace and should be adopted as normal business practise in organisations. The success we chalked last year is testament to its unique role in fostering creativity and innovation and developing budding talents in the technology industry. We are excited about our theme for this year and we are looking forward to a great time with the developers.”

Across the globe, Hackathons have become incomparable platforms in providing workable solutions. In many places, most participants have found it a useful avenue in realising their dreams.

Statistics available from about a year ago indicates that over 10,000 startups have launched at Hackathons worldwide. Entrepreneurship continues to remain a critical element for flourishing economies, and in most cases, Hackathons present a channel through which it finds expression.