He said the Ghana @60 Anniversary Secretariat would select 60 beneficiaries from each of the 10 regions to improve the country’s fortunes in the scientific world. Mr. Commey announced this at the launch of the Jubilee Innovation Challenge, in Accra, on Wednesday, aimed at challenging Ghanaian youth between 18 years and 35 years, to innovate creative ideas that would solve societal problems.

Additionally, he said, 60 deprived communities across the country would also benefit from library facilities to enhance knowledge acquisition and expressed optimism that corporate entities would support the project. As part of the celebration, he said, March 1, had been declared the National Flag Draping Day, therefore, Ghanaians were encouraged to decorate themselves, homes, streets and other public places with the national colours of Red, Yellow, Green and Black.

Explaining the Jubilee Innovation Challenge, he said applicants must originate ideas that would provide solutions to social issues pertaining to healthcare, science and technology, education, local governance, as well as industrial and manufacturing management. The competition opens from February 22 to May 19, 2017, and shortlisted applicants would be announced on July 2, 2017.

The awards ceremony would come off on July 19, 2017, and the Winner would receive a GH¢100,000 prize package; while the First Runner-up would receive GH¢75,000. The Second Runner-up would go home with GH¢50,000. Universal Merchant Bank would finance the rewards.  My Commey said the competition of creative ideas would create a platform to mobilise young people to contribute their quota towards national development

The theme for the anniversary celebration is: “Ghana, 60 years on, mobilising towards the future.”