African Engineers: Professor Frank Kwami
When Professor F O Kwami was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Engineering (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, in 1982, the University of Engineering dropped the expert services of an extremely gifted engineering educator. A German-qualified engineer and a purely natural trainer, Frank Kwami was a pure choice for rapid advertising to comprehensive professor and then to the vice-chancellorship. If the rumour mongers muttered about a political appointment of a fellow tribesman by the just lately self-appointed Head of Condition, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, they would have been hard pressed to name a better qualified candidate. Even so, his general performance at the head of the college was less unforgettable than that of his a few distinguished predecessors and recommended a carefully modified sort of Professor Parkinson’s nicely-known law that capable folks are inclined to be promoted to a stage of lesser competence.
KNUST was finest acknowledged internationally for its Technological innovation Consultancy Centre (TCC): an independently-funded organisation that operated a huge-ranging programme of grassroots industrial improvement tasks. Vice-Chancellor Dr E Evans-Anfom experienced started the TCC in 1972 and his successor, Dr E Bamfo-Kwakye had been instrumental in getting funding guidance for the TCC’s Intermediate Technological know-how Transfer Units (ITTU) at Suame Magazine in Kumasi and Tamale in the Northern Location.
Frank Kwami had utilized unsuccessfully for the write-up of initially TCC director in 1972, and on getting to be vice-chancellor a decade later on 1 of his initial moves was aimed at attaining control of the TCC and its overseas funding aid. This led to 4 a long time of conflict that drew in the Authorities of Ghana and global donors and resulted in the TCC retaining its unbiased status. It was unfortunate that this individual problem positioned a blot on Frank Kwami’s phrase as vice-chancellor.
Frank Kwami presided above the affairs of KNUST throughout a period of time of exceptional political and financial turbulence that was mirrored in lifetime in the university. At this time there were being regular electric power cuts and three times a 7 days operating, the KNUST Catholic Pastor was shot and wounded at a street barrier and professors had been identified as on early early morning radio bulletins to report to the head of state in Accra. When Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings initially seized electricity in 1979 he was well known with the university students but throughout his next coming in 1982/3 he missing reputation by closing the universities and sending the students dwelling to assist feed the country by functioning on the farms. Food stuff was scarce and academics joined lengthy queues for the chance to invest in a several item of ‘essential commodities.’
Frank Kwami’s time period as Vice-Chancellor may not have been distinguished by any considerable growth of the university’s range of abilities but at this time to preserve the institution was a worthy achievement. On retiring from his substantial put up he returned to the Faculty of Engineering as an emeritus professor in the Office of Mechanical Engineering. Right here, he not only revived his standard educating pursuits but took component in an progressive programme that stored his memory alive in circles remote from the college.
Beginning in 1994, Intermediate Technological know-how Ghana (ITGhana) commenced a study of about one particular hundred tiny engineering enterprises, mainly in Kumasi, Accra and Tema but also in Tamale, Takoradi and Sunyani. The goal was to recognize complex weaknesses that may possibly be strengthened by limited coaching courses held at KNUST throughout the college holidays. Frank Kwami grew to become the Director of a collection of two 7 days residential programs for proprietors and professionals drawn from engineering corporations bundled in the survey. The courses included subject areas this sort of as deciphering and operating from engineering drawings, laptop-aided drawing and foundry-based mostly production.
The grassroots engineers warmly welcomed the opportunity to examine at the university and acquire instruction from eminent professors. Frank Kwami attained the lasting respect of these adult males and women who tremendously appreciated his ability in presenting complicated issues in obvious and very simple terms that they could have an understanding of. What amazed them most of all was Frank Kwami’s willingness to provide his awareness down to their degree and also his concern for implementing this understanding in the get the job done of their enterprises. In this way Frank Kwami shared with his illustrious predecessors a worthy record of aiding in the grassroots industrial enhancement of Ghana.
