Members of the Branch 3 (Eastern Region) of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) have embarked on a technical field trip across the Greater Accra Region to deepen their understanding of industrial innovation, renewable energy and sustainable engineering practices in Ghana.
The visit brought together engineers from the Volta River Authority, Ghana Water Company Limited and Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, who visited three leading industrial facilities: Safisana Ghana Limited, Helios Solar Company and Cargill.
At Safisana Ghana Limited, located along the Adjei Kojo–Santeo stretch at Tema West, the engineers observed the operations of West Africa’s first waste-to-energy plant. The facility converts organic waste, including faecal sludge and agricultural waste, into electricity and compost, demonstrating how engineering innovation can transform environmental challenges into sustainable solutions.
Officials explained that methane gas extracted from human waste powers a 100-kilowatt generator connected to the national grid through a power purchasing agreement with the Electricity Company of Ghana. Through a net metering system, electricity exported to the grid is accurately measured and credited, creating measurable economic and environmental value from waste materials that would otherwise pollute landfills and waterways.
The delegation later visited Helios Solar Company at the Tema Free Zones Enclave, where engineers explored Africa’s largest single rooftop solar installation. The 16.82-megawatt peak project, mounted across 95,754 square metres of warehouse roofing, comprises 29,262 N-type solar panels capable of generating approximately 24,750 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually.
The facility also reduces carbon emissions by more than 11,000 tons each year, highlighting the growing role of renewable energy in Ghana’s industrial transformation. Engineers observed the advanced inverter systems used to convert solar energy into reliable industrial power for businesses operating within the enclave.
At Cargill, the team explored highly automated cocoa processing operations that produce cocoa powder, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor and cocoa cake for export to international markets. Engineers were particularly impressed by the company’s sustainability practices, where cocoa bean shells generated during processing are repurposed to fuel an in-house bio-boiler system that produces steam for factory operations.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Ing Godfrey Jackson, Chair of Branch Three, said the visit was aimed at strengthening technical learning, promoting professional networking and encouraging active participation within the engineering profession.
He noted that the tour also reinforced the critical role of engineers in driving industrial innovation, sustainability and national development, adding that such engagements expose professionals to practical solutions shaping the future of Ghana’s engineering landscape.
