Ghana Wins 2nd Place in 2025 Pan-African Robotics Contest, Urges Kit Upgrades

The Firefly IO Robotics Team from St. Louis Senior High School in Kumasi has secured second place in the 2025 Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC), held in Senegal.

The all-female team, accompanied by their juniors from the school’s STEM Center, competed against approximately 30 teams from across the continent. This year’s competition focused on phosphate production and fertilizer development.

The challenge was divided into three core zones:

1.Mining Zone – Teams were required to build a robot capable of extracting phosphate rocks.

2.Mixing Zone – Participants developed a chemical reaction process to create fertilizer.

3.Shipping Zone – The final task involved sorting and transporting the finished product.

The team designed and built a robot using VEX IQ kits to successfully navigate all three zones and execute the required tasks. Firefly IO, organizers of the Ghana Robotics Competition, facilitated the team’s participation in the competition.

By placing second, the team has earned the opportunity to represent Ghana and the African continent at the 2026 World Robotics Competitions in the United States—first in Maryland in March, and again at a yet-to-be-confirmed location in May.

Speaking at Kotoka International Airport upon their return on Tuesday, July 22, Team Lead, George Sarfo acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge but praised the girls’ determination and hard work.

He emphasized the importance of expanding access to robotics and artificial intelligence education, especially in underserved areas.

He observed that while some schools have access to robotics programs, many still do not, underscoring the need to close that gap. As Lead Organizer of the Ghana Robotics Competition, Mr. Sarfo expressed his commitment to partnering with schools across the country to promote STEM education.

He also appealed for financial support from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, corporate organizations, and individuals.

“Right now, we are preparing for our National Robotics competition—the Ghana Robotics Competition (GRC)—in October at the University of Ghana. We have 150 schools registered, ranging from middle school to tertiary institutions, but many of them face financial challenges. We need sponsorship to help these students participate, we also need both the VEX IQ and VEX V5 Robotics kits for our international competitions,” he noted.

Salamat Adams, one of the team members, expressed joy over their achievement, saying the experience has inspired the team to aim even higher in future competitions.

Another participant, Oprah Winfrey Nketiah, elaborated on the challenge and the design of their robot.

She noted that although the team performed excellently, they were slightly edged out due to the more advanced robotic kits used by other competitors.

“With better equipment, we believe we can win next time,” she said confidently.

The STEM Coordinator at St. Louis Senior High School, Alfred Ahwireng, echoed the call for support, stating that while the school is already engaged in robotics education, it plans to extend these programs to nearby communities to reach more students.

Charlotte Ansah Yeboah, a parent of one of the participants, urged fellow parents to allow their children to explore various disciplines. “When children are exposed to different skills, they’re more resilient and adaptable in the future,” she said.

By Porcia Oforiwaa