Inclusive Tech Group (ITG), a Ghanaian non-profit dedicated to creating innovative technology for everyone, has introduced its latest creation: the Smart Cane. This new assistive device, designed and built in Ghana, aims to greatly improve mobility and independence for people who are blind.
The Smart Cane is a clever piece of technology designed to help blind individuals navigate their surroundings.
It works by detecting obstacles in the user’s path and providing clear alerts using beeping sounds. The device can easily be attached to any standard white cane.
The Smart Cane uses two different beeps to indicate how close an object is: a continuous beep for nearby objects and a single, longer beep for objects farther away. This helps users better understand their surroundings and move around safely.
Unlike many assistive devices that are imported from other countries, ITG’s Smart Cane is entirely made in Ghana. It’s designed to be easily detached, recharged, and affordable, making it a practical solution for the Ghanaian context.
Dr. Obeng Asamoah, Executive Director of the Ghana Blind Union, tested the Smart Cane and praised it as “a significant step forward in assistive technology for the blind in Ghana.” He strongly encourages the government to support ITG in producing and distributing the device to blind people across the country.
One inspiring story is that of Sarah, a blind student at the University of Ghana and a key member of Team Oracle, the group of young people who helped create the Smart Cane. Sarah used the cane for three months and found it incredibly helpful. “For the first time, I was able to walk on my own from my dorm to my classes,” she said. “Being part of the invention process allowed me to express my needs, and my team listened. They built a device that truly solves my everyday challenges.”
Sarah’s experience highlights ITG’s core belief: that assistive technology should be created with people with disabilities, not just for them. The Smart Cane is a perfect example of this, as it is practical, empowering, and designed with the user’s perspective at its heart.
More than just a simple device, the Smart Cane embodies ITG’s commitment to affordable and accessible technology for all, regardless of ability or location. This commitment is also reflected in initiatives like the Disability Inclusive Hackathon (DI-HACK), which brings together people with and without disabilities to develop solutions tailored to the lived experiences of persons with disabilities in Ghana and beyond.
Joseph Aboagye, Project Coordinator at ITG, emphasises that their goal is not just to innovate, but to empower individuals and improve the lives of the over 3 million people with disabilities in Ghana by creating user-driven, context-specific assistive technologies. To make the Smart Cane accessible and affordable to the blind, Inclusive Tech Group is actively seeking collaborations and support from the government to ensure their active participation in society.
