A six-member female engineering team from Ho Technical University placed seventh among 19 universities at a Women in Engineering competition in Ho. The team, led by Madam Sesinam Kumako, developed an AI-powered prototype called NephroScan GH. This prototype aims to predict the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) using full blood count (FBC) data.
Other team members included Equagoo Thomasia Tsofe, Kumi Rhodaline, Catherine Adikah, Winnifreda Mensah, and Esther Ablavi Tsinyo. Madam Kumako stated that the application helps predict CKD risk before it progresses to advanced stages. The team collected data from hospitals and trained mathematical models to identify relationships among FBC parameters.
The prototype uses FBC parameters for CKD risk prediction. This approach differs from conventional methods that often involve kidney function tests and imaging techniques. “We actually did an AI-powered app called NephroScan GH,” she said. “The app is simply to predict your risk of CKD before it even gets to the late stages.”
Madam Kumako noted significant challenges in obtaining sufficient data for the project. CKD patient records were not always readily available. Team members spent long hours collecting data from both CKD and non-CKD patients to train their models.
“The most tedious part of the whole project was the collection of data,” she explained. Despite these challenges, everything else went smoothly. The team also faced financial difficulties during development but received support from the university.
Madam Kumako expressed satisfaction with their seventh-place finish but emphasized their desire to improve in future competitions. “We came out seventh out of 19 universities, but we are hoping to do better next year,” she said.
The team thanked Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, for his support throughout the project. The development of NephroScan GH reflects efforts by young engineers to apply AI and data-driven technologies to health challenges in Ghana.
Bougatanga Technical University won WinEAffair 2026 with their project titled Digital Flood Alert System. This system detects floods and alerts residents with sound notifications. The University of Development Studies secured second place with a project creating permeable pavement blocks that absorb rainwater to prevent flooding. The University of Mines and Technology’s TAPA campus took third place.
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