Announcement: The deadline for the programming competition has been extended to October 31, 2005. Please address all questions and concerns to henry.barnor@ghanathink.org.

Please read the following information carefully, as it has been recently updated.

The GhanaThink Foundation is pleased to announce its first invitational programming contest.

Prizes
Prizes are to be paid out in cedis at the prevailing exchange rate.

- The first prize will be $200.
- The second prize will be $100.
- The third prize will be $50.
- There will be six honorable mention prizes of $25 each.

The Challenge
The contest is designed to encourage students of the top ICT institutes to push the limits of the technology available to them. The hope is that by providing a monetary reward for excellence, students will be further motivated in their quest to creatively solve local problems through efforts started at school.

Participants
The competition is currently open to final-year projects from the following ICT institutes:

- AITI-KACE
- NIIT
- KNUST
- Ashesi University
- Valley View University.

If your school is not mentioned in the list above, you may still participate. Send in a hard copy of the registration form and all other pertinent materials to the following address:

1.GTPC.06: The GhanaThink Foundation Invitational Programming Contest
C/O Dixcove Ventures Ltd.
18 Dr. Amilcar Cabral Road
P. O. Box KA 9286
Airport, Accra

How to Enter
Read the Contest Rules located at the end of this document. By participating in 1.GTPC.06, you agree to be bound by these Contest Rules.

Register for the competition. The registration period is from September 1-30, 2005. You may register at http://homefront.ghanathink.org/?q=gtpc/06/register. Please note that you need a faculty sponsor in order to participate in this competition.

The following program languages will be accepted:

- Java
- C/C++/C#
- Python

If you wish to submit a project that uses a different language, you may be able to do so, although the primary languages accepted are those above. Please send an email to henry.barnor@ghanathink.org to verify whether your entry will be accepted.

Your final submission must include a Makefile and README. If your code depends on third-party packages, you must include a complete list of all packages, including exact version information and download URLs.

All entries must include an explanation of the design. Entries must also include source code for the implementation. Also, clear instructions and an easy to use demo program that allows experimentation with your system will help.

You must submit a final submission form (available for download at the 1.GTPC.06 website). Your entries must also include brief resumes of everyone who contributed to the project.

Entries must be submitted in machine-readable format (gzipped tar file) via CD. More details on mode of submission to follow. Entries may be submitted between June 1-30, 2006.

You may submit multiple entries. Keep copies for your records. The GhanaThink Foundation assumes no responsibility for lost, misdirected, illegible or late entries or for failed computer transmissions or technical failures.

Discussion Group
If you want to discuss ideas and problems related to the programming contest with other participants, visit the GhanaThink programming contest forum: http://ghanaconscious.ghanathink.org/?q=forum/26.

Judging
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges from academia and from the GhanaThink community. The judges shall have the sole authority and discretion to select the award recipients.

Contest Rules
1. To participate in 1.GTPC.06 (the "Contest"), you must be at least 18 years old.
2. The Contest is open to individuals or teams of up to 3 people, but not to corporate entities.
3. With regard to the software and repository that you obtain for the Contest, you agree to the license terms as stated in files you download or receive.
4. If you are selected as a contest winner, you agree that The GhanaThink Foundation may publicize your name, likeness, and the description of work you did to win the contest.
5. Apart from the prizes associated with being selected as a winner, The GhanaThink Foundation shall not be obligated to compensate you in any way for such publicity.
6. $200 cash prize will be awarded to the first place entry. If the entry is submitted by more than one individual, the cash prize will be divided equally among the participants who submit the entry.
7. $100 cash prize will be awarded to the second place entry. If the entry is submitted by more than one individual, the cash prize will be divided equally among the participants who submit the entry.
8. $50 cash prize will be awarded to the third place entry. If the entry is submitted by more than one individual, the cash prize will be divided equally among the participants who submit the entry.
9. Six $25 honorable mention prizes will be awarded. If the entries are submitted by more than one individual, the cash prize will be divided equally among the participants who submit the entry.
10. Each entrant shall indemnify, defend, and hold The GhanaThink Foundation harmless from any third party claims arising from or related to that entrant's participation in the Contest. In no event shall The GhanaThink Foundation be liable to an entrant for acts or omissions arising out of or related to the Contest or that entrant's participation in the Contest.
11. Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of entries received. All taxes, including income taxes, are the sole responsibility of winners. No prize substitution is permitted. Winner(s) may be required to verify their entry.

Notification
The winning entry will be announced on The GhanaThink Foundation website (http://www.ghanathink.org). Following the announcement, individual winners will be notified by e-mail. Winners have 14 days from notification to claim the prize. Prize may be claimed by return e-mail. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded.

Contacts
Henry Barnor: henry.barnor@ghanathink.org
Michelle de Saram: michelle.desaram@gmail.com

Website
http://homefront.ghanathink.org/?q=1stprog