By Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA – Omaya Care has emerged winner of the maiden Ghana AI Innovation Challenge, held as part of the Ghana AI Summit and Awards 2026 in partnership with the Ghana AI Research Network (GAIN) and Meta.
The team received the top prize of GH¢25,000 in recognition of its innovative artificial intelligence-powered maternal healthcare solution.
Omaya Care addresses the critical challenge of high-risk postpartum complications, which often go undetected in Ghana due to limited follow-up care after mothers are discharged from health facilities.
Its AI-powered, voice-native platform uses ordinary phone calls to assess mothers’ health, identify warning signs through real-time audio reasoning and escalate urgent cases to healthcare providers when necessary.
Designed for accessibility, the solution operates on basic mobile phone networks and WhatsApp, enabling timely clinical triage without the need for smartphones or mobile data.
By making AI-powered maternal healthcare available through widely accessible communication channels, Omaya Care has the potential to improve the early detection of complications and save lives, particularly in underserved communities.
In a highly competitive contest that attracted more than 100 applications, participants showcased innovative AI-powered solutions built on Ghanaian datasets across healthcare, agriculture, financial inclusion, public service and communication sectors.
Following the initial screening process, 12 teams were shortlisted to participate in the final stage of the Ghana AI Innovation Challenge.
The finalists presented their solutions before an expert judging panel, with Omaya Care emerging as the overall winner.
Husker AI and SignLink received Certificates of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding and impactful AI solutions.
The judging panel comprised Professor Isaac Wiafe of the Department of Computer Science, University of Ghana; Mr Emmanuel Ofori, Director at the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations; Ms Juliet Amoah, Country Director of Emerging Public Leaders; Mr Sulayman Usman, Global Practice Architect at Google Data Cloud; Professor Delali Dake, Associate Professor of Computing and Information Technology at the University of Education, Winneba; and Mr Abraham Odoi, Chief Technology Officer of Npontu Technologies.
Speaking at the event, Prof Wiafe said the challenge demonstrated the growing capacity of Ghanaian innovators to develop homegrown digital solutions.
“The Ghana AI Challenge shows that our young developers and innovators are not merely observing the digital revolution; they are actively shaping it with Ghanaian-based solutions designed for Ghana’s unique needs and values,” he said.
The Ghana AI Summit and Awards 2026 is organised by Knowledge Innovations.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah