GCTU has hosted the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) TECHX’25, Root and Code: Open-Source Innovation Festival, from July 15th to 16th 2025, at the main campus, Tesano.
The two-day event, which was organized by the Computer Society (CS) and Student Young Professionals (SYP), under the theme, “Empowering Developers through open source,” was aimed at inspiring innovation, fostering collaboration and empowering the next generation of tech leaders.
In an address, a Representative of the Minister for Communications and Digital Transformation, Dr. Samuel D. Antwi, expressed his deep appreciation to the organizers for creating such a dynamic platform which he described as “a significant milestone for visionary technology builders within Ghana’s university ecosystem.”
Dr. Antwi observed that open source is more than just a software development model, noting that “it is a philosophy; a philosophy that promotes inclusion, accelerates digital innovation, and embodies the principles of digital sovereignty and an empowered Ghana.” He highlighted the far-reaching impact of initiatives like TECHX’25, stating that such events do more than build technical capacity. “They nurture creativity, unlock opportunities and amplify the voices of young innovators eager to solve real-world problems,” he added.
In his concluding remarks, the speaker noted that the best ideas are often not locked behind closed doors but rather shared freely, refined collectively and developed openly. He urged students to own the moment and use the conference as a benchmark to shape their ideas and define their futures.
Delivering his address at TECHX’25 Conference, the Head of the Computer Science Department, Dr. Emmanuel Freeman, emphasized the importance of embracing open-source technology as a critical component of Ghana’s digital transformation. He described open source as “a paradigm we must all adopt,” noting that it offers access to freely available source codes and applications that can significantly accelerate the country’s digital sovereignty agenda. According to him, Open source is a catalyst. “In our current digital dispensation, we cannot thrive without it.” He explored the landscape of open-source technology, highlighting its potential uses, associated challenges, and the vast opportunities it presents for innovation and collaboration.
Dr. Freeman strongly encouraged students not only to utilize open-source tools but also become active contributors to the global open-source community. By doing so, they would not only enhance their development skills, but also support the broader goal of technological empowerment and self-reliance, play a crucial role in enhancing Ghana’s digital independence for the promotion of inclusive, sustainable innovation to drive the nation’s digital growth.
The Chairperson for the IEEE Ghana Section, Engr. Mensah Stitti also addressed participants at the TECHX’25 conference, encouraging them to fully leverage the opportunities the event offered. He urged attendees to use the platform to network, learn from experts, and showcase their projects and innovative ideas.
The Patron of IEEE-GCTU, Engr. Kyere Frimpong to advantage of the platform to urge participants to look beyond the traditional mindset of education as a pathway to employment. He encouraged students not to merely go through the educational system in search of jobs, but to equip themselves with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed to innovate, create opportunities and become job creators to solve real-world societal problems.
As part of the TECHX’25 experience, participants had the opportunity to engage in a range of interactive activities, including a Hackathon and Nano Mentoring sessions. These events were designed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and mentorship among aspiring developers and tech enthusiasts.
The top three winners of the Hackathon were awarded cash prizes, along with an exclusive opportunity to undertake an internship with IZ Company, a key partner of the event.
The event attracted a vibrant community of passionate technologists, researchers, students and industry professionals for an exciting exchange of ideas, hands-on experiences, and future-focused discussions.
