Hot!
Prof Acakpovi, aspiring Evangelist leading ATU’s transformation drive
Since his appointment as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Accra Technical University (ATU) in July 2023, Engr. Prof Amevi Acakpovi has set out on a transformative agenda geared at making the institution one of the best on the continent and the world.
His vision was to consolidate ATU’s position as the premier technical university in Ghana and brand it as the topmost technical university in Africa.
To achieve that, he has initiated processes to support human capacity development, seeking grants to re-tool laboratories, workshops and the library.
He is also working towards the establishment of a vibrant and dynamic graduate school at ATU.
Backed by a strong international network, his ambition is to promote national and international partnerships for increased visibility and promote stronger collaborations between the university and its key stakeholders.
Also with his Information Communication and Technology (ICT) background, Prof Acakpovi has shown keen interest in building a strong educational resilience in ATU by integrating sustainable virtual learning modules, with his research aspirations focused on making the university a technology hub; using applied research of all kinds and solving societal problems.
Engr. Prof Amevi Acakpovi is a Ghanaian citizen, a Professor in Electrical and Energy Systems Engineering. He is a Fellow Professional Engineer from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from the Lokossa Institute of Technology (Republic of Benin) in 2006, a Masters’ Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Abomey-Calavi University (Republic of Benin) in 2009 and a PhD in Energy Systems Engineering from a joint collaboration between Accra Institute of Technology and the Open University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2017.
Additionally, Prof Acakpovi holds a Certificate in Doctoral Supervision at African Universities from the Stellenbosch University in South Africa in 2019 and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Higher Education with Distinction from the Coventry University, UK in 2018.
Prof Amevi Acakpovi has served in many prominent positions in ATU including, Head of Electrical/ Electronics Engineering Department (2012- 2018), Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (2018-2020) and the Pro Vice-Chancellor from 2020 till date.
Originally from the field of Electrical, Electronic and Energy Systems Engineering, Prof Acakpovi’s areas of research include Hybrid Energy Systems, Mini and Microgrid Optimization, Smart Grid Modelling and Optimization, Solar and Wind Energy Modelling and Optimization, Artificial Intelligence in Energy Systems and Recommender Systems.
He is the author of more than 120 publications in International Journals including IEEE conferences, and transactions as well as other SCI-Indexed and EIIndexed journals.
He has experience in teaching and learning at the Graduate and undergraduate levels. He has taught extensively Masters’ level courses and supervised more than 50 MSc. thesis, and five PhD thesis from various recognized Universities.
He has consistently acted as an external PhD thesis reviewer/ assessor in his field of studies at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, the KNUST, UENR in Ghana, and the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin.
He was recently honoured as an international tutor for the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST) owing to his remarkable contributions in cosupervising PhD students and leading them to publications in top journals.
Prof Acakpovi was a recipient of many awards and laurels including the award of Excellence in Research and Development Leadership by the Solar quarter Grandmaster Award in February 2023; the award of the Decade Researcher at the Applied Research Conference in Africa (ARCA) in August 2021 and the Stairs’ Award of Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering, at Pune, India in December 2021.
He received in 2018, the Best Paper Award at the 7th IEEE International Conference on Adaptive Science and Technology and subsequently the Best Track Paper Award in project management at the IEOM conference in South Africa in 2018. He has won many grants in his areas of study.
He successfully led a team to establish the ATU’s Sustainable Energy Service Centre with a grant by MIDA under the auspices of the Energy Commission.
The Centre is currently running and offering Energy Audit and Energy Performance Certification courses; He has also won twice the Ghana Skill Development Fund grant, thrice the Carnegie African Diasporan Fellowship Programmes to mention but a few.
Prof Acakpovi has a vast international exposure through his attendances of multiple conferences in countries including Germany, France, USA, China, Russia and Egypt.
Prof Acakpovi is a Christian and happily married with five children. He is a God-fearing person and an aspiring Evangelist
By Michael D. Abayateye
Hot!
Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
Hot!
Energy Minister announces full restoration of power generation units after major grid disruption
Energy Minister, John Jinapor has announced that all power generation units affected by the recent national grid disruption have been fully restored and are back in service.
According to the Minister on social media, engineers, technicians and emergency response teams worked continuously to restore electricity supply and stabilise the national grid after the incident caused major challenges within the power sector.
In a statement, the Minister praised the efforts of personnel from the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana for their commitment and coordination during the emergency.
“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” the Minister stated.
He explained that despite the scale of the disruption, technical teams worked around the clock to restore power and secure stability within the system.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he said.
The Minister further expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, ECG and other supporting agencies for their collective response to the crisis.
According to him, the successful restoration of the system demonstrates the resilience and capability of Ghanaian professionals in times of national difficulty.
“This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people,” he added.
The Minister offered prayers for the country’s energy sector and the engineers who led the restoration efforts.
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
