Dagbani Wikimedians User Group’s Article and Wikidata Contest for 275 Parliamentarians of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana

Introduction

Dagbani Wikimedians User Group, in collaboration with its sister communities, including the Dagbani Wikimedia Community, Kusaal Wikimedia Community, Gurene Wikimedia Community, Dagaare Wikimedia Community, and Moore Wikimedia Community, embarked on a two-month-long competition dubbed “Parliament of Ghana Contest” from April 20 to June 20, 2023, to create articles and enrich Wikidata for the 275 parliamentarians of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana. Participants in all communities were awarded based on the criteria, which included the 1st prize for the Highest Contributor by bytes, the 2nd prize for the Second Highest Contributor by bytes, the 3rd prize for the Third Highest Contributor by bytes, and the Top Female Contributor by bytes.

Dagbani Wikimedia Community in Perspective

The Dagbani Wikimedia Community, along with its dedicated group of approximately 30 volunteers, played an active role in the Article and Wikidata Contest for the 275 Parliamentarians of Ghana’s 8th Parliament. Their contributions focused on creating comprehensive and reliable information resources in the Dagbani language, to ensure the parliamentarians’ representation and visibility on Wikimedia platforms. Fact-checking and content creation were conducted to ensure accuracy, with detailed articles highlighting backgrounds, achievements, and political contributions. The volunteers also enriched the corresponding Wikidata entries by providing structured and linked data.

In the writing contest, SIR SUCCESS (NAA JAHINFO) received the 1st prize for Highest Contributor by Bytes, followed by Kalakpagh in 2nd place and Ibn Dagara in 3rd place. Jahibia was recognized as the Top Female Contributor. Meanwhile, in the Wikidata contest, SIR SUCCESS (NAA JAHINFO) secured the 1st prize, Kadir2023 earned the 2nd prize, Munkaila Sulemana achieved the 3rd prize, and Jahibia was recognized as the Top Female Contributor.

The Dagbani Wikimedia Community’s participation in the contest has yielded several positive outcomes. It enhanced the representation and visibility of Dagbani-speaking parliamentarians, contributed to the preservation of Ghana’s political history, and facilitated public access to accurate information. The contest also fostered community pride and empowerment among the Dagbani volunteers, emphasizing the importance of preserving and promoting the Dagbani language and culture in the digital realm.

Kusaal Wikimedia Community in Perspective

The Kusaal Wikimedia Community enthusiastically participated in the project, aiming to transition out of the incubator and establish Kusaal Wikipedia. They seized the opportunity to create more articles, fulfilling the requirements necessary to move the Kusaal Wikipedia into mainstream status. With limited knowledge of editing Wikipedia, the community received online training and guidance from co-leads through video tutorials and regular communication.

By the end of the competition, there were Wikipedia articles in Kusaal for all 275 Members of Parliament, along with Kusaal-language Wikidata labels and descriptions. This significantly increased the number of articles on the Kusaal Wikipedia, expediting its progress towards becoming a fully-fledged Wikipedia. The contest also facilitated the recruitment and training of more volunteers for Wikipedia and Wikidata editing, with the prizes awarded to participants serving as motivation.

However, the Kusaal Community faced challenges, including logistical constraints preventing in-person workshops and participants’ limited access to online platforms. Internet connectivity issues and high data costs further hindered participation. Additionally, time constraints for training and editing posed difficulties for both facilitators and community members, many of whom have other commitments. Approximately ten editors actively contributed to creating and editing articles for all 275 Members of Parliament.

The community leadership remains hopeful that steps will be taken to address these challenges and ensure smoother operations for both community members and leadership in future endeavors.

Gurene Wikimedia Community in Perspective

The participants of the edit-a-thon played a crucial role in creating an accurate and comprehensive representation of Ghana’s 8th Parliament. The winners of the Wikipedia and Wikidata awards deserve recognition for their outstanding contributions, and we express our gratitude to all participants for their invaluable support. This event not only enriched the Wikimedia platform but also served as an inspiration for future endeavors, showcasing the immense potential of collective knowledge sharing.

Among the winners were Awini Diana Anani (Atalata Gumah), who received the 1st prize as the Highest Contributor by Bytes; Ayimbila Akolbire (Ayimbila 90), who secured the 2nd prize as the Second Highest Contributor by Bytes; and Felicia Ayeti Amoramah (Amoramah), who earned the 3rd prize as the Third Highest Contributor by Bytes. Notably, Atalata Gumah also claimed the title of Top Female Contributor by Bytes, highlighting the invaluable contributions of women in the field of knowledge.

In the Wikidata category, Akabare Augustina (Akolpoka) emerged as the 1st prize winner, while Alhassan Gifty (Gumah1) secured the 2nd prize, and Asampana Wilfred Apergyine (Akuo Apɛyinɛ) earned the 3rd prize. Akolpoka also stood out as the Top Female Contributor in Wikidata, underscoring the significant contributions made by women in this domain.

Despite the challenges encountered during the edit-a-thon, such as managing schedules, ensuring consistency, and addressing technical issues, effective communication channels, regular meetings, and the unwavering support of the Gurene Wikimedia Community helped overcome these hurdles.

The success of this edit-a-thon has inspired the community to continue promoting knowledge, collaboration, and individual empowerment within the Wikimedia community. We extend our gratitude to everyone who joined us on this extraordinary journey, and we eagerly anticipate embarking on new adventures in the pursuit of knowledge.

Dagaare Wikimedia Community in Perspective

The Dagaare Wikimedia Community recently organized an edit-a-thon with the support of the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group and the Wikimedia Foundation. The event aimed to document the profiles of members of Ghana’s 8th Parliament and move closer to achieving live Wikipedia status for the Dagaare language. Thirteen dedicated contestants participated, showcasing their passion for preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage and political history.

The winners of the Wikipedia writing contest are Zakaria Tunsung Bukari (1st Prize), Yirkang Joachim (2nd Prize), Lanidune Bismark (3rd Prize), and Anthionette Kuukye (Top Female Contributor). For the Wikidata contest, the winners are Paula Daara (1st Prize), Bambaare Jacob Dekungmwine (2nd Prize), Linus Konkor (3rd Prize), and Paula Daara (Top Female Contributor).

Thanks to the participants’ collective efforts, the Dagaare Wikipedia Incubator experienced significant growth in content quality and quantity. The edit-a-thon brought them closer to achieving live Wikipedia status for the Dagaare language, preserving its unique culture and Ghana’s political heritage for future generations. The support from the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group and the Wikimedia Foundation was crucial, with financial assistance and technical expertise contributing to the event’s success.

The triumph of the edit-a-thon inspires the community to continue organizing similar events in collaboration with sponsors and the broader Wikimedia community. By empowering marginalized languages, cultures, and communities, they aim to amplify voices and preserve diverse stories. The dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work of the participants showcase the power of collective action and the impact of knowledge-sharing initiatives. With continued collaboration and growth, they strive to make a lasting impact on knowledge accessibility and sharing.

Moore Wikimedia Community in Perspective

The Moore Wikimedia Community achieved remarkable success in the Parliament of Ghana Contest organized by the Dagbani Wikimedia User Group. The contest aimed to document and translate the profiles of all 275 members of the Ghanaian Parliament into the Moore language, including their labels and descriptions on Wikidata. With great dedication and enthusiasm, community members from Moore, Kusaal, and Dagaare participated in this collaborative competition.

To ensure an effective contest, the Moore community implemented various strategies. A dedicated WhatsApp group was created for serious-minded and active editors, facilitating communication, resource sharing, and camaraderie. Additionally, team members recorded short video tutorials on editing Moore incubator articles, providing guidance to participants regardless of their experience level.

The contest witnessed intense competition among both seasoned editors and newcomers. Participants invested significant time in researching, translating, and editing English articles into Moore. Their dedication and commitment throughout the two-month contest period were inspiring.

The winners of the Parliament of Ghana Contest in the Moore community for Wikipedia articles are Binghi1 (First Top Contributor), Badaweya (Second Top Contributor), Raizkgh (Third Top Contributor), and Sumaya630 (Top Female Contributor). Raizkgh, Badaweya, and Sumaya630 were the top three contributors in the Wikidata competition.

The success of the Moore Wikimedia Community in this contest demonstrates the power of collaboration and the community’s impact on preserving and expanding knowledge in the Moore language. The community aims to leverage this momentum to further develop a vibrant and inclusive Moore Wikipedia and Wikidata presence.

Gratitude is extended to the Dagbani Wikimedia User Group for organizing the contest and providing a platform to showcase the cultural and linguistic heritage of Moore. Appreciation is also expressed to the participants, jurors, and all community members who contributed to the contest’s success.