President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers Ing. Magnus Lincoln Quarshie says the quality and quantity of Engineers and Engineering practitioners in any given society is directly proportional to the quality and quantity of its infrastructure.

According to him, any nation that makes engineering a priority becomes wealthy.

Ing. Lincoln Quarshie said this when he delivered his welcome address at the maiden Engineering Excellence Awards to reward Engineers and non-engineers who have distinguished themselves in the field of Engineering in Ghana at the State Banquet Hall, Accra on Saturday, 6^th December, 2014.

Speaking under the theme: “Design, Build And Construct, Let Us Think Forever”, Ing. Lincoln Quarshie urged Engineers in the country to ensure that their works stand the test of time.

“When we conceive the infrastructure, we must design and build to last forever. We must think forever, think of our children’s children and leave legacies that become Wonders.  As a nation, we need to sanitize, organize, be true and sincere to ourselves and to each other on our finances.  I have no doubt that we can raise enough to design and build infrastructure that will last forever”, Ing. Magnus Lincoln Quarshie admonished.

The Special Guest of Honour, Dr. Joyce Aryee inspired Ghanaian Engineers to use their professional knowledge to pursue happier lives for mankind.

“An Engineer is an individual pursuing happier lives of mankind using his professional knowledge. An Engineer guides the world from mainstream and a leading actor in society changing the world to a better place. An Engineers is an innovator aspiring changes over stagnation, a pioneer seeking new frontiers over complacency and a leader directing to the future over the present”, Dr. Joyce Aryee emphasized.

The Academic/Research Awards (Student category) went to Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah, an Electrical/Electronic Engineer who graduated from KNUST in 2012, and Ms. Josephine Marie Godwyll who is currently a Geomatic Engineering Student at KNUST

The Young Engineer Award was won by Ing. Samuel Boamah Danquah, who graduated with a BSc. Civil Engineering degree from KNUST in 2005 and later attained a Master of Science Degree in Geo-Information Science & Earth Observation from the University of Twente in the Netherlands in 2010.

Ing. Danquah has been involved in a wide range of Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) studies. His most significant and impactful TIA is the TIA for the West Hills Mall in Weija.

The External/Associate Award went to Dr. Richard Buamah for his important contribution to the cause of Public benefit engineering.

The Public Sector Individual Award was won by Ing. Prof. Emmanuel Y.H. Bobobee for developing a device for the mechanical harvesting of Cassava, Yam and other tuber crops for which a patent is currently under consideration by the African Intellectual Property Organization.

The Bui Power Authority received award for being the best in Public Sector Firm contributing to the engineering profession in Ghana.

The Academic/Research (Institution category) was won by College of Engineering, KNUST as a leading engineering centre of excellence over the years.

The Kintampo North Municipal Assembly received a special award on Sanitation improvement; whilst Mr. Nutor Bibini Nutor, who reported on the sanitation at the Kintampo North Municapal Assembly also received an award.

The Engineering Excellence Awards, was organized by the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) was sponsored by Tullow Oil Ghana, Bui Power Authority, Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA), WBHO, Vodafone and Graphic Communications Group Limited.