Photo: The Bueman SHS team proudly displays their winner’s plaque after emerging top in the Oti Regional Renewable Energy Challenge.
History was made on 18 June 2025 at the Bueman Senior High School in Jasikan, Oti Region, as the host institution emerged winners of the Senior High School Renewable Energy Challenge at the regional level — a landmark achievement for a school long associated with quiet resilience.
With an impressive score of 74.2 points, Bueman SHS clinched first place ahead of Kadjebi-Asato SHS (66.7%), Tapaman SHTS (66.3%), Dodi Papase SHTS (65.7%), and Biakoye Community SHS (61.7%). The winning project, titled “Enhancing Food Security through Smart and Efficient Irrigation as a Modern Farming Practice,” was praised by judges for its practicality, innovation, and potential for national impact.
Addressing the twin challenges of food insecurity and over-dependence on food imports, the Bueman team presented a renewable energy-powered irrigation system tailored for smallholder farming. Their solution integrates smart water management with affordable solar technology to maximise yields and minimise waste, offering a sustainable model for rural agricultural development.
“In a time of growing climate stress and rising food prices, the ingenuity of these students offers both hope and direction,” said one adjudicator. “This is not just a school project — it is a vision for the future of farming in Ghana.”
The Renewable Energy Challenge, an initiative supported by the Energy Commission and other stakeholders, aims to encourage innovation in clean technology among young Ghanaians while fostering STEM education across the country. The regional contest saw intense competition from participating schools, with each team showcasing locally adaptable energy solutions in agriculture, water management, and sanitation.
By virtue of their victory, Bueman SHS will now represent the Oti Region at the zonal stage of the national competition, carrying the region’s hopes and their school’s growing reputation for excellence in science and technology.
Speaking after the announcement, the lead student on the Bueman team said the group was driven by a simple goal: “We wanted to show that rural schools can lead the way in innovation, and that sustainability starts with smart ideas at the local level.”
The triumph adds to a growing list of academic and co-curricular milestones for Bueman SHS, which earlier this month launched its 65th anniversary celebrations with a renewed call for investment in rural public education.
For the Oti Region — often overlooked in national policy discourse — the victory is symbolic, proving that talent and innovation are not the preserve of the urban elite.
As Bueman prepares for the next stage, the message is clear: the future of Ghana’s food and energy security may well lie in the hands of its youngest problem-solvers
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