Engineers must design new technologies for environmental sustainability — Dr Letsa

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, has entreated engineers to take a firm stance to design and implement new technologies to promote sustainability and preserve a legacy for future generations.

He said the world was witnessing a surge in technologies, such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy systems and biotechnology, with the potential to transform lives.

However, Dr Letsa pointed out that the technological changes came with responsibilities, in the wake of climate change, resource depletion and social inequities.

The regional minister said this when he opened the maiden general meeting of the Volta/Oti branch of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) in Ho last week Thursday (September 19).

About 100 professional engineers, craftsmen and engineering students, as well as some heads of departments, attended the meeting which was on the theme: “Responsible engineering for sustainability in a world of emerging technologies.”

Leverage technology

Dr Letsa maintained that technologies must serve humanity, but in the same vein, protect the environment that sustains humanity.

“As engineers, you must get it right from the design stage, through the material extraction processes to the material disposal method, without posing danger to the current and future generations,” he added.

For instance, Dr Letsa said, engineers could leverage renewable energy systems to build smart cities with improved urban living through the integration of new technologies.

Further, he observed that climate change was already taking a great toll on agriculture, which highlighted the need for engineers to come up with solutions to guarantee sustainable agriculture by exploring farming practices that required fewer resources for bountiful yields.

Crucial

The Volta/Oti GhIE Branch Chairman, Antoinette Ama Agboado, earlier, said engineering played a very crucial role in regional development as it addressed pressing challenges through the power of technology and innovation.

“Engineers are the ones responsible for pushing the limitations of possibility, and constantly making advancement in any form of development, with ideas for the national development agenda,” the branch chairman added.

She expressed concern over engineering practitioners' lack of job opportunities, saying that was a great cause for worry.

For instance, Ms Agboado said, the Ho Technical University (HTU) was the largest institution with engineering students in the Volta and Oti regions. Still, it was difficult to find placement for them for field practical work.

The participants were taken through Just Transition: Responsible engineering for sustainability, Real-time burst and leakage management, Household water treatment technologies in rural communities, Earthing/Grounding in homes and other topics.