The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has supported the Department of Electrical Engineering of the College of Engineering (CoE) with a two hundred and fifty thousand United States dollar ($250,000) high voltage (HV) laboratory to facilitate teaching, learning and research.
The High Voltage laboratory was recently commissioned at a ceremony attended by the Board and Management of ECG and the Management of the University and some senior lecturers of the CoE.
The ECG has collaborated with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on many projects since 2007. This collaboration was further deepened with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which the ECG pledged to spend five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) on projects in KNUST over a three-year period. The University also promised to give a portion of its land to the ECG for the construction of a district office.
Professor Samuel Nii Odai, Pro Vice-Chancellor, observed that KNUST was privileged to partner a world-class organisation such as the ECG. He said it was historic and marked a milestone in the life of the College for stakeholders to provide support to the University. He thanked the ECG for increasing its visibility on campus through the continued support to the College.
Madam Perpetua Darfour said KNUST had assisted the ECG in many areas such as giving part of its land for the construction of the ECG Ayigya District Office. Land had also been donated to the ECG for the construction of the Anwomaso and Boadi substations. The University had also facilitated the construction of thirty three (33) KV feeders.
Madam Darfour revealed that the University had made requests for test platforms and measuring instruments which had been ordered and were expected soon. She noted that other areas identified for collaboration included training of KNUST faculty members on electricity distribution equipment and factory attendance tests(FAT), sponsorship of KNUST faculty members to present research papers abroad and part-time tuition by experienced ECG staff among others.
Madam Perpetua Darfour, stated that the collaboration was beneficial to both parties because ECG would continue to depend on KNUST to produce skilled manpower to man their operations. This was because currently over 50% of all ECG graduate engineers were products of KNUST. Madam Darfour said “If we can assist to equip the University adequately, then we can be sure that our future engineers would be well trained to meet our future needs.”
Professor Samuel Innocent Ampadu, Provost of CoE said the significance of the commissioning of the HV laboratory was to demonstrate to the whole world that it was ready for work. He noted that the ever increasing number of students and insufficient facilities called for support from alumni, individuals, corporate organisations and all stakeholders to help improve teaching and learning. This was because government support alone was inadequate.
