The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana has launched an innovation challenge, “AI for Her Future,” to tackle child marriage and teenage pregnancy through technology and creativity. The hackathon brings together young innovators aged 18 to 35 from across Ghana to design and develop tech-based and community-centered solutions to address issues affecting adolescent girls. Winners will share GH¢180,000 in cash prizes and receive mentorship and training to further develop their ideas.
According to UNFPA Country Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan, the initiative marks a significant moment for the organization’s work in Ghana. While progress has been made in reducing child marriage and teenage pregnancy, more needs to be done. In Ghana, one in five girls is married before her 18th birthday, and nearly 14 percent of girls between 15 and 19 years are already mothers or pregnant.
The hackathon is part of UNFPA’s broader innovation strategy, designed to use new ideas and tools to solve long-standing social challenges. Dr. Ochan highlighted the power of artificial intelligence in preventing such problems before they occur, citing examples such as AI alerting community workers to a 15-year-old girl who has suddenly dropped out of school, or a chatbot offering confidential reproductive health guidance to a scared young girl.
The hackathon will feature two tracks: AI and data innovation, and community-based social innovation, to ensure that solutions reach even girls without access to the internet. Partners, including Google, Global Affairs Canada, the African Health Innovation Centre, Stanbic Bank, and the University of Ghana, are supporting the initiative.
Google Ghana Country Manager, Mr. Perry Nelson, expressed excitement about partnering with UNFPA on the project, stating that technology is best when it helps society. He mentioned Google’s local AI projects, such as mapping Ghana’s buildings for Google Maps and improving weather forecasts, and noted that with AI, risks can be predicted before they occur.
The hackathon reinforces the significance of empowering girls through innovation and highlights the need for collective action to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy. As Dr. Ochan emphasized, “No child should be forced into marriage. This is not UNFPA’s fight alone. It is Ghana’s fight.” The initiative is a step towards creating a future where girls’ dreams are not postponed or erased due to poverty, gender norms, or outdated traditions.