When Maame Abena Nhyira Antwiwaa Yamoah-Antwi and Nana Adwoa Aseda Ampomaah Yamoah-Antwi first entered a robotics competition in Accra, they were two schoolgirls driven by curiosity.

By December, they were part of the teams representing Ghana on one of the world’s biggest youth artificial intelligence stages.

The pair, pupils of Hallmark International School in Haatso, are members of AI GIRLS, a team that has quickly come to symbolise Ghana’s growing confidence in science, technology and innovation education.

Their journey reflects Ghana’s wider emergence at the ENJOYAI Global Robotics Finals, held in Wuzhen, China, where young learners from 61 countries competed in one of the world’s leading youth technology competitions.

Ghana’s delegation was led by the National Organizer of ENJOYAI Ghana, The MakersPlace, a robotics and AI education organization that equips children, young people, and teachers with hands-on skills.

The Ghanaian team attracted international attention for both performance and presence.

The Accra breakthrough

AI GIRLS’ rise began at the ENJOYAI African Open, hosted at the Accra Digital Centre from 26–27 September 2025.

The continental event brought together young competitors from across Africa to test their skills in robotics, coding and artificial intelligence.

Competing in the Cyber City Challenge (Upper Elementary category), Maame Abena Nhyira and Nana Adwoa Aseda secured second place, standing out for their structured problem-solving, calm coordination and teamwork under pressure.

The result earned them a place on Ghana’s national delegation to the global finals in China.

For the two girls, the experience was about more than rankings. It was an introduction to critical thinking, perseverance and collaboration, skills that would be tested on a far bigger stage.

A global stage in China

At the ENJOYAI 2025 Global Final, held from 5–7 December, Ghana’s young competitors faced teams from Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.

The scale was immense, with thousands of students competing across multiple categories at the Light of the Internet Expo Centre in Wuzhen.

Overall, Ghana placed second runner-up to China in the Robot Game category, marking one of the country’s strongest performances at the global finals.

AI GIRLS, however, made their mark in a different way.

Judges awarded the team the Best Team Spirit Award, recognising unity, discipline and perseverance in the face of technical and strategic challenges.

The award celebrates teams that demonstrate collaboration and resilience, qualities the girls displayed consistently throughout the competition.

Officials noted that the team supported one another throughout difficult rounds and showed encouragement to fellow competitors, embodying the values ENJOYAI seeks to promote in youth innovation spaces.

Looking ahead

Ghana’s strong showing in Wuzhen has already produced tangible outcomes. ENJOYAI organisers have confirmed that Accra will host the ENJOYAI 2026 African Open, scheduled for 24–25 September 2026, positioning Ghana as a continental hub for youth robotics and AI education.

Experts say the results reflect Ghana’s growing investment in STEM education and demonstrate what is possible when young learners are given structured support, modern tools and international exposure.

For Maame Abena Nhyira and Nana Adwoa Aseda, the experience has reshaped their ambitions. They now speak confidently about futures in technology and innovation — fields where African girls remain under-represented.

In Wuzhen, amid flashing lights and complex robotics, two young girls from Accra showed that global innovation does not belong to one country or one continent. It belongs to those willing to learn, collaborate and persevere.