Speak Out for Engineering Competition: Ghana

The young member rep for IMechE Ghana, King Lucas Darko’s report on this year’s Speak Out for Engineering competition (SOfE). The first ever SOfE heat in Ghana was organized this year on the 25 June, 2021.

The event was run together with the inauguration of IMechE in University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani.(UENR) and Ghana as a Nation. As part of the preparations for the SOfE, the interest of members was engaged through sample videos of past SOfE competitions and detailed explanations of what the competition was about. Interested students were asked to complete an application form.

17 applications were received and subjected to scrutiny to select the best 8 SOfE-worthy topics. The programme commenced with the Chair giving a description of IMechE UENR chapter, it was then followed up by an opening address from Dr Emmanuel Amankwah (PhD) the Head of Department of the Mechanical and Manufacturing Department.

The event was honoured virtually by Hassan N Ansari (CEng FIMechE) who gave the inauguration speech and Dr. Mohammed Uneeb (PhD CEng FIMechE) who gave the main SOfE speech. Mr. Cosmas Rai, a lecturer from the Department of Languages, and the Patron of the Forensic Society and Debate Club-UENR, Dr. Eric Akowuah, a Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UENR and Dr. Ebenezer Nyarko Kumi, an associate member-IMechE and a lecturer of the department of Mechanical Engineering were the panel of judges for the event.

Below are the names of the selected applicants and the respective topics they presented on, each contestant was allotted 15 minutes for their pitch with a warning bell two minutes prior to the end point. This was followed by a ten-minute question and answer session.

1. Ms. Theodosia Awinimi Apibil the only female contestant presented on the topic: Using solar energy and electricity as an alternative to fuel for running cars and vehicles.

2. Mr Prince Otu presented on the topic: Railway development and its influencing factors in Ghana.

3. Mr. Bryan Afriyie Attobrah gave out a presentation on the topic: Nuclear energy as an alternative source of clean energy in contribution to ending carbon emissions and achieving the SDG #7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

4. Mr. Benjamin Tettehdzi presented on the topic: Heavy duty machinery and their contribution to industrial and civilian development.

5. Mr. Victor Danquah took the floor and presented on: Hybrid plastic express roads transforming plastic waste into roads.

6. Mr. Silas Yeboah presented on Matrices and determinants; application in real life in aiding the advancement of technology.

7. Mr. David Ato Brown gave out a presentation on the topic: Principles of thermoelectric cooling: advantages and disadvantages.

8. Mr. Emmanuel Ocran Aboagye presented on the topic: Desalination of sea water as an alternative solution to the global problem of severe shortages of clean drinking water 

The judges were impressed by all the participants and acknowledged their depth of knowledge as well as the communication skills. The Judges deliberated on the marks and finally came to a consensus, Dr Ebenezer Nyarko Kumi one of the judges addressed the contestants and the audiences acknowledging and encouraging all members to build their communication skills, he then went on to declare the winners for the competition.

The 2nd runner-up for the Speak Out for Engineers 2021 in Ghana was Mr David Ato Brown who presented on the Principles of thermoelectric cooling: advantages and disadvantages.

The 1st runner-up for the competition was Mr. Victor Danquah who presented on: Hybrid plastic express roads transforming plastic waste into roads.

The winner for the 2021 SOfE competition was Mr. Bryan Afriyie Attobrah who presented on: Nuclear energy as an alternative source of clean energy in contribution to ending carbon emissions and achieving the SDG #7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

The event concluded with the distribution of respective citations and the closing remarks from the Student Chair, Mr. King Lucas Darko.