Accra, July 26, GNA - A five member delegation made up of three contestants and two officials would represent Ghana at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Ontario, Canada from August 14-21.

The world computer programming contest seeks to promote the study of informatics and develop the problem solving skills of young students around the world through the application of algorithms and data structures to real life problems.

A statement issued by Mr. Francis Dogbey, Leader of Ghana's delegation and copied to Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday said Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE) had been promoting the study of informatics among second cycle students in the country through computer programming competitions at regional and national levels.

Since 2004, AITI-KACE initiated and continues to run a nation-wide ICT project called 'I TOO CAN PROGRAMME' (i2CAP).

The aim of this project is to improve the programming and problem solving skills of Senior High School (SHS) students in order to equip them with the necessary skills that would enable them to be at par with their contemporaries all around the world.

This year, 16 students below the age of 20 from SHS across the country subscribed to represent Ghana at the IOI. Each student took part in a two-week intensive boot camp on programming using C++ and Basic Data structures after which six best performing students were shortlisted for further mentoring on advanced computer science concepts, algorithms and discrete structures at the Ghana India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT.

Out of the six, three contestants were selected to represent Ghana at this year's IOI event.

The contestants are Elias Konadu Awudu, former student of Prempeh College, Cecil Arthur, former student of Pope John's SHS and Jonathan Mishiame, former student of Apam SHS.

The delegation would be led by Francis Dogbey, Project Coordinator and Technical Facilitator, Ghana India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT) and Ama Peprah Asare, Undergraduate student of University of Ghana and Technical facilitator.

Participating in this competition for the third time, Ghana is hoping to make an impressive showing in this year's edition.

The sponsors of Ghana delegation for 2010 edition of the IOI/i2CAP include Finatrade Foundation, Star Assurance and AITI-KACE.

Corporate institutions in Ghana are invited to partner with AITI-KACE to train and improve the problem solving skills of young Ghanaians at SHS level through computer programming.