By Francis Kwabena Cofie
Haatso(G/A) Oct.30, GNA- Dr. Mrs. Enyonam Kpekpena, the Executive Director of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, has urged project management stakeholders within the engineering value chain to promote gender equity to ensure greater dividends at the end of projects.
She gave the advice at the 10th Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Conference on Adaptive Science and Technology (ICAST) 2026, held at Academic City University, Accra.
The three-day event, convened by Dr. Ezekiel Mensah Martey, the Ghana Section Conference Coordinator, was held on the theme “Engineering a Resilient Future through Convergent Technology.”
It was attended by students drawn from universities such as Ashesi University, the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Mines and Technology, the University of Professional Studies, Academic City University, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani Technical University, Kumasi Technical University and Koforidua Technical University, among others.
Other attendees included researchers, academics, and science and technology experts, as well as representatives of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE).
The conference aimed to discuss adaptive science and technology issues and provide adaptive solutions to local problems.
It also sought to promote convergent technologies to build resilient systems in areas such as education, agriculture, and health, and to foster collaboration among academia, industry, and government to turn research ideas into practical products and services.
At the end of the conference, research papers on artificial intelligence and machine learning, medical AI and health informatics, power, electrical and electronics, embedded systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, communications, cybersecurity, software systems, blockchain and socio-technical informatics, biomedical engineering, and computer vision and natural language processing would be presented.
Speaking on the topic “Engineering Equity: Women Powering Convergent Technologies,” Dr. Mrs. Kpekpena explained that females on project teams brought a different perspective and were detail oriented.
She added that when a section of the community was underrepresented in engineering practice, as was in the case with women, problems are usually not solved holistically.
According to her, gender equity was an important discussion in project management because when women were on projects, teams benefitted from broader perspectives and greater attention to detail, resulting in more thorough and holistic solutions and, ultimately, greater dividends at the end of those projects.
She, therefore, called on education stakeholders to build inclusive teams from early education to leadership level, to create a stronger foundation for gender equity and give full effect to the objective. She added that research has shown that inclusive teams have transformed their societies.
The Executive Director also called on industry, institutions and organizations to adopt innovative and adaptive solutions churned out in the universities to address local needs in society.
She bemoaned the fact that the country was failing in that respect, which was taking a toll on national development.
Speaking on the topic “Building Resilient Institutions through Convergent Technologies,” Prof. Geoffrey Emi-Reynolds, the President of the Christ Apostolic University College, Kumasi, urged key stakeholders to resolve to stop building on the sand of quick fixes, raw resource exportation and youth neglect.
“Let us anchor our institutions on the solid rock of sound ethics, strategic resource management and long-term vision,” he said.
He emphasised on the importance of equipping the youth with convergent technologies to enable them to build an African continent that is strong and self-reliant.
In a keynote address titled “Engineering a Resilient Future through Convergent Technologies,” Prof. Dassan Paul Raj of the Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, India, said the shortage of doctors in rural areas could be addressed by deploying resilient telemedicine in those areas.
Convergent technologies, he said, could create a resilient future in areas such as education, agriculture and health, among others.
Prof. Raj urged students to take a keen interest in research and become entrepreneurs who create jobs rather than seek them.
In a special message, Prof. Fred McBagonluri, the President and Provost of Academic City University, encouraged participants to take full part in every session, challenge existing assumptions, forge cross-disciplinary partnerships and mentor the next generation of researchers.
He said the nation had never lacked ideas and opinions, adding that these should be transformed into products.
“We should not allow our students’ ideas to end up in theses and dissertations and on the shelves of libraries,” he said.
He encouraged academic authorities to teach students to take their ideas to market and keep evolving them, adding that the country could no longer afford to remain stagnant.
Prof. McBagonluri urged participants to bring to life the wide-ranging body of research that would be presented, emphasizing that “that initiative is what would transform our procurement-based economy and save our continent.”
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah