Ghana Hackathon Builds Assistive Tech for 2.5B People

When Sarah Kekeli overheard developers at a Ghanaian hackathon discussing how white canes work, she knew they had it wrong. The visually impaired philosophy graduate wasn't even registered for the competition, but her correction changed everything.

That moment captures the magic of DI-Hack, Ghana's Disability Inclusive Hackathon, now in its fifth year. Every November, teams gather in Accra with one requirement: at least one team member must have a disability.

The structure is simple but revolutionary. People with disabilities identify real challenges from their daily lives, then work alongside young developers to build solutions over 72 intense hours.

This year's winning project, EchoSign, translates Ghanaian Sign Language in real time using a 3D animated avatar. The crucial detail? It works offline, perfect for areas with spotty internet. Second place went to inclusive playground equipment that lets children with physical disabilities play alongside their peers using sensors, LED lights, and vibration pads.

The hackathon addresses a massive global gap. About 2.5 billion people worldwide need assistive technology, but only 15 to 25% of Africans who need these tools can access them. Most available products are imported from Europe or North America and don't fit local contexts or budgets.

Millicent Agangiba founded the hackathon after seeing this mismatch firsthand. "You can't keep transferring technology built for London or Berlin and expect it to work in Accra," she says. "Context matters."

The Ripple Effect goes beyond individual inventions. After Kekeli joined her team mid-competition, they completely redesigned their smart navigation stick based on her feedback. Instead of building an entirely new cane, they created a detachable smart device that fits traditional white canes, making it lighter and more practical.

Teams camp together for three days, deepening both technical collaboration and social understanding. Winners receive medals and cash prizes up to $925, but the real prize is usability. When people with disabilities lead the design process from day one, the technology actually works for them.

Ghana's 2.1 million people with disabilities still face digital systems rarely built with accessibility in mind. But five years of DI-Hack have produced dozens of prototypes grounded in lived experience, proving that African innovators can build what their communities need.

The competition takes place each year just before the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3. As Africa's assistive technology market heads toward $1 billion by 2030, these young teams are showing there's a better way than relying on imports.

Sarah Kekeli's impromptu intervention reminds us that the best solutions come from those who understand the problem intimately.