The only female contestant and celebrated electrical engineer of Volta River Authority (VRA), Sophia Abena Tijani, has emerged as president-elect of the prestigious Ghana Institution of Engineering (GHIE).

Out of a total of over 2093 votes, she pulled  664 votes (31.72 per cent) to beat her closest competitor, David Kwatia Nyante, by nine votes, who polled 655 votes.

The other contestants were Ing Michael Kwesi Levi Dedey, who pulled 470 votes, Ebenezer Kwesi Haizel, who pulled 256 votes and Daniel K Bainson, who pulled 48 votes.

The elections was held as part of GHIE’s annual general meeting and conference which started on Tuesday March 25 and ends on Friday March 28,2025 with a banquet dinner ceremony.

The 55^th GHIE AGM and conference, which was held under the theme “Urbanisation and Smart Cities: The Engineering the Future of Smart Cities” brings together captains of the engineering industry to discuss the place of the profession in national development towards building a better future for Ghana.

Ms Tijani will take over from Kwabena Bempong. She will be the first female GHIE President from the Volta River Authority.

Profile of president-elect Sophia Abena Tijani (FGhIE)

Sophia A. Tijani is a distinguished electrical engineer with over 22 years of expertise in the energy sector, contributing to reliable electricity supply across Africa and the USA.

Her career spans key organisations, including ECG, VRA, Deloitte, and Mott McDonald’s Inc. (USA), showcasing her technical and strategic acumen.

Her multifaceted experience covers substation protection and control design, equipment maintenance, business planning, financial and economic appraisal, contract management, public procurement and talent development.

A passionate advocate for capacity building, she collaborates with regional bodies such as WAPP, ECREE, GIZ, and AfD to strengthen energy sector capabilities.

A leader in engineering excellence, Sophia Tijani has held various roles in the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), including Vice President and National Councillor, and has served on governing boards like the Ghana Railway Development Authority and Ho Technical University.

She is a Fellow of GhIE, a Senior Member of IEEE, a certified adult trainer, and a Renewable Energy Professional.

She is currently the Manager, Employee Relations & Reward Management, Human Resources at the Volta River Authority.

Her outstanding contributions to gender and energy have also earned her numerous awards locally and internationally.

With a strong commitment to STEM advocacy, professional ethics and excellence, Tijani continues to drive impactful change in Ghana and beyond.

Until she was elected president-elect, Sophia Abena Tijani was the vice president of GHIE.