On Thursday 13th October 2022, the Founder and Executive Director of Footprints of Glory Foundation, Architect Kafui Amegbe was with the Ho West District Director of Education, Mr. Francis Yaw Agbemadi to present a sendoff package to the National Energy Challenge Team from Kpedze Senior High School to the Volta Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Paulina Slyn Eworde Gobe at her office in Ho.
Composition of the Kpesco TEAM
Kpedze Senior High School’s 2022 National Renewable Energy Team
The team from Kpedze Senior High School which is working on a Solar Dehydrator Project, comprised John Kofi Ahialey, a form 3 General Science student, Glawu Priscella, a form 3 Home Economics Student, Amuzu Obed, a form 1 General Science Student and Lawson Donatien a form 2 General Science Student. The team is under the supervision of Mr. Charles Opoku Asante who is a Science Teacher at the school and Mr. Kenneth Kumah Dovlo the driver of the team.
Donation to TEAM
Mr. Edem Kofi Kptosu, the Regional Human Resource Officer received the package on behalf of the management team and the Volta Regional Director of Education who is participating in a National Education forum in Accra. In attendance for the presentation were officials from the Ho West District Directorate of Education headed by the Director, comprised of Mr. Frank Hakporti, the PRO, Madam Edna Morttey the WITED Coordinator, and Mr. Richard Norvey, the Ho West District Science Coordinator. The Volta Regional Education Directorate team comprised Mr. Sebastian Sokah the regional Accountant, Mr. Alfred K. Amposah, the regional internal auditor, Mr. Eric K. Gamadeko, Madam Rosemary Ahiadeke the Volta Regional Science Coordinator, Mr. Forgive Yao Agoha, the regional PRO and Mr. John Johnson Jnr, the deputy regional PRO.
Architect Kafui Amegbe (right) presented the cheque to Mr. Stanley K. Dzidzeme, Assistant Headmaster of Administration of Kpedze Senior High School.
Arc. Kafui Amegbe presented on behalf of Footprints of Glory Foundation 4 customized lab coats and t-shirts to each of the students in the team. In addition, each of the other 4 members of the team was presented with customized Footprints of Glory Lacoste. A cheque of GH5,000.00 was also presented to the team to aid them in preparing a winning experiment to bring home the trophy when they face off with other finalists on Wednesday 19th of October at the Accra International Conference Center. The items were received on behalf of the Headmaster of Kpedze Senior High School who is away at the ongoing CHASS meeting in Accra by the Assistant Headmaster of Administration, Mr. Stanley K. Dzidzeme, and accompanied by the head of the science Department Mr. Paul Senyo Xeflide.
Presentation of Parcels of Customerized Lab Coats, IDs, T-Shits, and Lacostes to all Team members
Performance of Kpedze Senior High School in the 2022 Competition
The Energy Challenge Team from Kpedze Senior High School won the Volta regional championship and proceeded to represent the Volta region at the national contest where they placed 3rd in the southern zone contest held in Kumasi. They will compete in the grand finale and will be battling it out with Ghana Secondary Technical School, Yaa Asantenwaa Girls Senior High School, St. Joseph Girls Senior High School, Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Bueman Senior High School, Mfantiman Girls Senior High School, and the National defending Champion Mamfe Methodist Girls Senior High School.
The Project: Fruit and Vegetable Preservation Using Solar Dehydrator
Introduction
Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They also help protect against cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
In Ghana, it is estimated that about 20 to 50% of fruits and vegetables are damaged in storage, during transport, or at the market each year (ICIPE, 2013). Ghana is endowed with abundant renewable energies such as solar, wind, and hydro energies which are clean, cheap, and have no or less environmental and health impact on us. Ghana receives estimated solar radiation between 4−6kW h/m2 during peak hours.
Given the importance of fruits and vegetables and how much of these products go waste each year. Also looking at how much clean, abundant, and cheap renewable energies we are endowed with. The team seeks to use these abundant, clean renewable energy in the preservation of fruits and vegetable
Considering the above, the team decided to go with Solar Dehydrator.
Solar Dehydrator
A solar dehydrator is a device that uses heat energy from the sun to remove moisture from food in a controlled environment itoreduce microbial activities thereby extending the shelf span of the food.
Solar dehydrator experiment setup by Kpedze Senior High School
How it works
Air is drawn through a filter-dryer into the solar collector (Line Focus solar collector or solar parabolic trough collector). The filtered air is heated to a high temperature in the Line focus solar collector.
The hot air then enters the drying chamber which is used in dehydrating the sliced fruits and vegetables on the screen trays.
Who Can Use the Solar Dehydrator?
- Household: Use it to store fruits and vegetables bought in season for later use.
- Farmer: Use it to store their surplus produce which can be sold at a better price in times of high demand.
- Restaurants and Food joints: Use to store fruits and vegetables bought in season for later use. Also, dehydrated fruits and vegetables can be used to prepare special foods for sale.
- Business: Can use it to produce snacks and other products for sale.
Conclusion
The project is in line with the mission of Footprints of Glory Foundation. Our Foundation believes strongly in the empowerment of young people and adults in society. We believe this project would go a long way to increase gains made in fruits and vegetable production in Ghana.
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