20 universities participate in fifth WinE Affair as female engineering students showcase solutions
The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), through its Women in Engineering Ghana (WinE Ghana) initiative, is strengthening efforts to build the next generation of female engineers through technical education, innovation and mentorship.
The commitment was demonstrated at the fifth edition of WinE Affair, held from 2 to 3 October 2026 at Ho Technical University (HTU), where female engineering students showcased solutions to societal challenges.
Held under the theme “Engineering a Sustainable Future: Women Leading the Way,” the two-day programme brought together students, academics, engineers and other professionals for innovation, mentoring, career development, networking and competition. The 2026 edition involved 20 universities.
At the heart of this year’s WinE Affair was an inter-university innovation competition challenging participant to apply engineering knowledge to practical problems.
Female engineering teams developed prototypes and presented solutions addressing community challenges, emphasising creativity, collaboration and problem-solving.
The Chairperson of WinE Ghana, Ing Jane Naki Tetteh-Anowie, said the programme would encourage more women to enter engineering and develop the confidence required to thrive.
She stressed that men remain important partners in creating a more inclusive engineering profession and encouraged more women to contribute alongside their male counterparts.
The competition highlighted the potential of female engineering students to develop practical solutions.
Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) emerged as the winner with a Smart Emergency Communication System with Flood Monitoring, designed to detect rising floodwaters and alert emergency responders.
The system is intended to support NADMO and the Ghana National Fire Service in responding to flooding.
The BTU victory reflects the broader ambition of WinE Affair: to turn promising ideas into solutions that can be developed and commercialised.
WinE Ghana’s Executive Lead for Mentoring, Coaching and Education, Ms Alberta Amankwa, noted that projects from previous editions were being developed for commercialisation, some attracting industry interest after presentations at GhIE’s engineering conference.
The programme emphasised mentorship and professional development.
Participants engaged in mentoring sessions and discussions on leadership, professional growth and engineering careers.
The Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, challenged women engineers to use their expertise to develop practical solutions to Ghana’s development challenges.
He urged young women to embrace research, innovation and technology while building resilience and competence to overcome barriers and assume leadership positions.
The growth of WinE Affair forms part of GhIE’s commitment to a more inclusive engineering profession.
Through WinE Ghana, the Institution provides opportunities for mentorship, career development, professional networking and industry exposure for girls and young women interested in engineering and related STEM disciplines.
The fifth WinE Affair is an investment in talent, innovation and leadership, creating a pathway for women to move from the classroom into professional practice.
