An Engineer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has called on engineers, especially engineering students in the country, to change their mindsets from the attitude of accepting to be “repairers of already-made machines and venture into inventions and innovations.”
Ing. Emmanuel Wireko-Brobby, Head of the Electrical Engineering Unit of the Technical Services Directorate at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), said the age old universal Lagrangian, Laplace and Thevenin theorem in physics and mathematics, which every engineering student studied, are the same principles China, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore were using to manufacture bicycles and motorcycles that Ghana imports all the time in large quantities.
Speaking at the KNUST Alumni Connect programme on the theme: “Resilient Engineering Community: Empowering 360 Engineers For National Development’ last week Friday at the Kumapley Auditorium, KNUST College of Engineering, Ing. Wireko-Brobby disabused the notion that there was a deficiency in the human capital when it comes to the development of the country.
Lamenting on the nation’s identity, he said: “Go to China, and it is mobile phones; go to Hong Kong, and talk of toys; and to Holland, and it is heavy trucks. Come to Ghana, and it is all about second-hand (home used) goods and scraps, popularly called “condemn”.
He identified “will power” as the only stumbling block to the country’s development, but challenged the students, particularly those of them who would have the opportunity to be joining industry, to let their presence be felt by imparting positively on good engineering practices.
Ing. Wireko-Brobby stated that the essence of engineering was to identify problems of society and try to find solutions to them.
He lamented that “we have the Isaac Newtons; the Archimedes, and the Faradays right here in the College of Engineering and the Technical universities” who are capable and can do things better, but the support, either from the state or private sector, was not there, and emphasised that there must be a deliberate effort by the state to support science and innovations for a change.
Ing. Wireko-Brobby has invented several medical equipments, including a theatre lamp, wheelchair, patient bed, x-ray viewer, snellin viewer, and radiant warmer to his credit.
Other inventions include drip stand, prosthetic arm and water purity fester among others, which are trademarked ‘Wirbtech Products’.
Panelists, who are alumni and now in industry, included Ing. Sophia Abena Tijani, Vice President of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, Ing. Dr. Celestina Allotey, Mr. Kwabena Larbi, Senior Risk Consultant at Sykes & Partners, and Prof. Ing. Emmanuel Akowuah of the College of Engineering, KNUST.
The Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, in an address, explained that the Alumni Connect symbolised the bridge between the past, the present, and the future, which reflects the enduring commitment of the College’s alumni to give back to the College that nurtured their potential and dedication of the Engineering Faculty to impart knowledge and ignite the flame of curiosity within the students.
He elaborated that the programme provided an invaluable opportunity for the alumni to share experience and knowledge, support the students, and also for meaningful connections, insightful discussions, and the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
He emphasised that “our alumni possess a wealth of wisdom, and urged engineering students to engage with them (alumni), seek their guidance, and learn from their journey.”
Prof. Nyarko said the achievements of the alumni in various spheres of engineering had brought immense glory to KNUST, which “have not only elevated the reputation of this College, but have also served as a beacon of hope for our students.”
The Provost of the College of Engineering reminded the engineering students to always remember that they “stand on the shoulders of giants.”
From Thomas Agbenyegah Adzey, Kumasi
