The Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Edward E. Obeng-Kenzo, has challenged engineers to take a more strategic leadership role in shaping Ghana’s industrial future, stressing that the successful implementation of the Government’s 24-Hour Economy would depend on engineering innovation, long-term planning and resilient infrastructure.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd GhIE–Professor Douglas Boateng Lecture Series, Mr Obeng-Kenzo described the 24-Hour Economy as both an engineering challenge and a national opportunity, calling on the engineering profession to lead the transformation required to build a competitive and industrialised Ghana.
“The engineers gathered here today will play a defining role in its success. We have both the responsibility and the privilege of building the foundation upon which future generations will prosper,” he said.
He noted that engineers would be responsible for designing and sustaining the power systems, transport networks, manufacturing facilities and digital infrastructure needed to drive continuous economic activity and position Ghana as a globally competitive industrial economy.
Mr Obeng-Kenzo urged the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) to strengthen its role as the nation’s foremost engineering think tank by providing evidence-based policy advice, promoting engineering excellence and advancing strategic leadership within the profession.
He further called on the Institution to champion investments in reliable energy infrastructure, support efforts to reduce technical losses in power systems through engineering solutions, influence national energy policy and promote long-term infrastructure planning capable of addressing Ghana’s development needs over the next several decades.
The VRA Chief Executive also emphasised the importance of engineering ethics, continuous professional development, effective project management and investment in specialised engineering skills to prepare the country’s workforce for emerging energy and infrastructure challenges.
Beyond the energy sector, he challenged engineers to provide innovative and sustainable solutions to national challenges, particularly the recurring flooding affecting Accra and other parts of the country.
Speaking at the event, Professor Douglas Boateng, founder of the lecture series, said the initiative was established to celebrate engineering excellence while providing a platform for strategic dialogue on industrialisation, infrastructure development and national transformation.
He urged engineers to embrace long-term, generational thinking and contribute meaningfully to policies that would sustain Ghana’s industrial growth beyond political cycles.
The President-Elect of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, Ing Sophia Tijani, said the annual lecture series had become an important platform for connecting engineering expertise with national development priorities.
She explained that this year’s theme, “Power Never Sleeps: VRA, the 24-Hour Economy and the Industrial Future of Ghana,” was inspired by the critical role of reliable electricity in enabling the Government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda.
“We cannot achieve a successful 24-hour economy without reliable power generation. That is why VRA was the ideal partner for this important national conversation,” she said.
The annual GhIE–Professor Douglas Boateng Lecture Series continues to provide a platform for engineers, policymakers, industry leaders and academia to exchange ideas, influence public policy and promote engineering solutions that drive sustainable infrastructure development, industrial growth and national prosperity.
As Ghana pursues its industrialisation agenda, the lecture reaffirmed the indispensable role of engineers as innovators, problem-solvers and nation builders whose expertise will be central to creating a resilient, productive and globally competitive economy.
