Prof. Acakpovi installed ATU VC
An investiture ceremony has been held to formally install Professor Amevi Acakpovi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Accra Technical University (ATU).
He is a distinguished scholar and accomplished engineer with over 15 years of experience in academia, research, management and international engagement.
Widely respected, he has demonstrated strong commitment to teaching, innovation and national development.
The ceremony, attended by government officials, academia, traditional authorities, industry partners, staff, students and alumni, underscored government’s renewed commitment to technical and vocational education as a driver of the country’s industrialisation, skills development and economic transformation.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said the occasion was a moment of responsibility and trust, noting that the Vice-Chancellor’s role went beyond administration to providing vision, balance and direction for the University.
Dr Apaak said technical universities such as ATU were central to the country’s development agenda, particularly at a time when the country required skilled graduates who combined theory with practical competence to solve real-world problems.
He commended Prof. Acakpovi’s leadership during his tenure as Acting Vice-Chancellor, highlighting expanded academic programmes, strengthened research and innovation, and increased local and international partnerships.
“Your appointment reflects years of service, consistency and belief in this institution; the ministry is ready to collaborate to advance technical education and industry-aligned training,” he added.
The Technical Advisor to the Minister of Education, Prof. George Oduro, stressed that the mandate of technical universities was to bridge theory and practice, align education with industry, and produce graduates capable of creating employment.
He said the government’s 24-hour economy agenda required deliberate prioritisation of practical skills, innovation and productivity.
Prof. Oduro urged the new Vice-Chancellor to lead with service, strengthen systems, empower management teams and respect the governing statutes of the University, while calling on all stakeholders to support the leadership and avoid partisan or sectional interference in university governance.
In his investiture address, Prof. Acakpovi expressed gratitude to the Governing Council, government and the university community, describing his appointment as a reaffirmation of trust and institutional continuity.
Reflecting on his two-and-a-half years as Acting Vice-Chancellor, he outlined key achievements, including the accreditation of 25 postgraduate programmes; 30 four-year BTech programmes; the mobilisation of over five million dollars in research grants, and improved global rankings and visibility for ATU.
He announced that the University would soon roll out its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, anchored on seven pillars, including competency-based training, digital transformation, applied research and innovation, staff welfare, strategic partnerships and sustainability.
Prof. Acakpovi reaffirmed his commitment to building ATU into a solution-driven, industry-aligned institution capable of producing future-ready graduates to meet Ghana’s development needs.
Professor Acakpovi, an accomplished engineer and scholar, is widely recognised for his contributions to technical education, energy transition, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and higher education reform.
He has delivered more than 50 keynote addresses and invited lectures across Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States, focusing on digital transformation in TVET, renewable energy, cybersecurity, drone technology and Africa’s higher education future.
He has also served on several national committees and expert panels under institutions such as the Ministry of Education, Ghana Standards Authority, Energy Commission, Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) and the National TVET Oversight Committee, contributing to policy development and national capacity building.
At the continental level, Professor Acakpovi chairs the African Electrotechnical Standardisation Commission (AFSEC) Technical Committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility, where he led the development of key technical guides adopted across Africa, further positioning Ghana as a growing force in global standardisation and energy frameworks.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
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