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BuzzTrick App Wins MTN Apps Challenge Version 2.0

Business & Finance BuzzTrick App Team Nana Ekow Taylor, Elvis Agah And Henk Oppong Receiving The Cash Prize Under Lifestyle Category
JAN 31, 2015 LISTEN
BuzzTrick App Team Nana Ekow Taylor, Elvis Agah And Henk Oppong Receiving The Cash Prize Under Lifestyle Category

BuzzTrick App, developed by a Ghanaian team of app developers, Nana Ekow Taylor, Elvis Agah and Henk Oppong, has been adjudged the overall winners of this year's MTN Apps Challenge 2015 Version 2.0, in a very hot and close contested competition.

BuzzTrick is a new and exciting social content aggregation and lifestyle app that refreshingly keeps you up-to-date with all the day's happenings, from the latest news and the hottest events, to the most exciting places around you plus it's all centered around Ghana for Ghanaians living in Ghana and abroad.

Android device users and news hunters can read the news on the go from some of Ghana's most trusted news sources plus a mix of some international sources to spice up the tabloids.

In October last year, MTN set out to identify innovative and locally relevant mobile Apps when it launched the MTN Apps Challenge Version 2.0 under the theme “Promoting Innovative Local App Development.”

Version 2.0 of the MTN Apps Challenge attracted 100 Apps,mainly from developers from the Greater Accra,Ashanti and Central Regions. The MTN Apps Challenge Version 2.0 Awards had apps placed under Education, Lifestyle and Games and Entertainment.

The apps received were scrutinized by distinguished experts who were drawn from the telecoms industry and from academia. The entries were then assessed based on innovation, functionality and commercial viability. The apps were shortlisted to the top 20 and then the final winners were selected.

The winning team walked away with GHC20,000 in addition to winning a lifestyle app prize of 15,000 from the Lifestyle category as well.

The awards ceremony held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra brought together dignitaries and those who matter in the digital and technology field in Ghana to witness this historic event.

Some other winners under the education category included Lovell Larbie with her app Wo Daakye; Richard Duodo and Adu Kwabena with their Virtual High School Education app; Jesse Cofie and Isaac Onwukwe with Quizlead;

On the other hand, Games And Entertainment Category winners were: Wilfred Attipoe with his Tales Of Hassan; Nana Ghartey with his African Heros in 3D; Delali Vorgbe Akanse Games.

Lifestyle winners were: Nana Ekow Taylor, Elvis Agah, Henk Oppong, BuzzTrick, StefanFroelich Whisspa, Christian Pels and Kofi Akuoko with Bluegate.

There were other consolation prizes like App with Promising Concept which went to David Addoteye with his app InMoment.

The Most Promising Developer was also won by Richard Duodo with his app Virtual High School, Africa – Rise of a Hero & Ghana Place Finder.

All winners from all categories won GHC15,000 each with the overall best winning GHC20,000 in addition.

In a speech read on his behalf by Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, The CEO of Mobile Telecom Network MTN, Mr Serame Taukobong, said as a brand with a vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers, the company was delighted to see a lot of progress being made in the development of local apps.

"The number of local app downloads we have recorded in recent times tells us that patronage of local Apps is increasing. We also draw our conclusion from the performance of the app that emerged winner at the first MTN Apps Challenge --the Oware 3D App which has undergone over 30,000 downloads to date.

....Setriakor Nyomi owner of the Oware 3D app and winner of the first Apps Challenge has received overwhelming interest in his work and we are happy to be part of this success story. In today's digital economy, billions of apps are downloaded daily around the world, and as the leading mobile communications company in Ghana, MTN has a responsibility to ensure that Ghana plays a significant role in the apps industry. MTN recognizes the importance of using technology as a tool to promote human development," she said.

She went on to add that applications played major roles in all aspects of our lives.

"Go to any apps retail website and you see apps that make our lifestyles more convenient, apps that educate us, promote healthier lifestyles, games, entertainment, religion; indeed I would venture to say there are apps for almost every facets of our lives. It should therefore be no wonder to you that the MTN Apps Challenge for 2014 was geared towards the search for mobile applications focused on education, lifestyle, games and entertainment.

...We also noticed significant improvement in the quality of Apps received. This is an indication that the app developer community in Ghana is seeing growth. The developers went through painstaking processes to develop Apps that seek to address problems that confront society using technology," she emphasized.

She used the occasion to congratulate all winners and all apps that were shortlisted.

"On behalf of the management of MTN Ghana and on my own behalf, I wish to express our appreciation to our panel of judges for accepting our invitation to support this project of “Promoting Innovative Local Apps Development”.
Congratulations to the MTN project team for good work done. As MTN leads “the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers”, it is our hope that Ghana would embrace these new Apps as we work together to become relevant participants in the bold new digital world," she noted.

NANA EKOW TAYLOR, ELVIS AGAH, HENK OPPONG. BUZZTRICK. OVERALL WINNER APPS CHALLENGE VERSION 2.0NANA EKOW TAYLOR, ELVIS AGAH, HENK OPPONG. BUZZTRICK. OVERALL WINNER APPS CHALLENGE VERSION 2.0

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