The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has bestowed honorary degrees on Joe Anokye, the director-general of the National Communications Authority (NCA) for his outstanding contributions to Ghana and beyond.
Anokye received the honour during the 57th KNUST congregation on Friday (24 November).
Six other individuals were also recognised for their achievements. The honorees include Emeritus Prof Kwasi Kwafo Adarwa, former Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Sophia Ashiokai Quashie-Sam, former registrar of KNUST, Ing William Amuna, the technical coordinator for the Millennium Development Authority (MDA), Ing Fredrick Asare-Yeboah, chairman of the Associated Consultants, Ernest Akwasi Appiah, and the managing director of Agricultural Manufacturing Group Limited (AMG), and Prof. Peter Materu, the chief programme officer of Mastercard Foundation in Canada.
Lead the way
The honorary degrees were also conferred during the 12th RP Baffour Memorial Lectures, culminating in a ceremony on the final day. Anokye delivered the lectures on the theme, “KNUST After 70: A New Age for a Renewed Focus in an Era of Disruptive Technologies.” He urged the leadership and stakeholders of KNUST to ensure the university’s continued role in guiding the country and Africa to leverage technology for development.
“The onus rests on us to rekindle Dr R. P. Baffour’s flame of visionary leadership, ensuring that KNUST remains illuminated, guiding not just Ghana but the entire African continent into an era where technology is not just adopted but innovated, understood, and pioneered here within our revered walls,” he said.
History
Three lectures were delivered during the event. In the first lecture, Anokye, a geodetic engineer and KNUST alumnus spoke on the sub-theme, “KNUST, a History of Remarkable Growth in Science and Technology Education, Resilience, and Adaptability in the Digital Space.” He recounted the establishment of KNUST and its various milestones, contributing to the advancement of education and Ghana’s science and technology space.
Acknowledging KNUST’s role, Anokye highlighted alumni such as Kofi Annan, Professor Francis Allotey, Thomas Mensah, artist Ibrahim Mahama, and past Vice-Chancellors for introducing programmes that elevated the university’s global standing.
In the second lecture, titled “Ghana’s Digitalization Drive, a Response to the New Age of Disruptive Technologies,” Anokye discussed Ghana’s telecommunications growth over the decades, from smoke signals to the upcoming introduction of the fifth-generation wireless (5G) network in the country.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to introducing 5G, stressing the need for substantial investment to ensure complete national coverage.
Dignitaries
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, commended Dr. Anokye for his insightful presentation on the evolution of telecommunications in the country. The event was attended by various dignitaries, including the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu Dabo, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kwasi Obiri Danso, deans and heads of colleges, traditional leaders, executive members of NCA, and students.
About R.P. Baffour Memorial Lectures
Inaugurated in 2012, the R. P. Baffour Memorial Lectures commemorate the life and contributions of Dr. Robert Patrick Baffour. These lectures promote scholarly debate on issues of national and international importance. Dr. Baffour, the first Vice-Chancellor of KNUST from 1961 to 1967, was a Ghanaian engineer, politician, and university administrator, pioneering engineering education in the country. Also known as Papa Andoh, he was born on May 14, 1912, in Elmina.
Reporting by Jonathan Ofori in Kumasi
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