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The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, in the Western Region, has unveiled an all-purpose electric car that was built by a team of students of the institution.
Elijah Twum, Barnabas Kyia, Cornelius Owusu, Kelvin Acheampong and Elizabeth Acheampong, from the Faculty of Engineering of UMaT, under the supervision of Dr Emmanuel Effah, assembled the car, using chassis of tricycle collected at the scrap yard.
The Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Prof. Richard Kwasi Amankwah, announced this at the 16th congregation of the university, held for 1,609 students at Tarkwa on Saturday.
Out of the number 16 graduates, including the Manager, Tarkwa Mine of Gold Fields Ltd, Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, were awarded Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
Prof. Amankwah said “This vehicle has been tested for a period of time, and after commission, it will be used to facilitate movement in and around campus.
The Vice Chancellor (VC) also unveiled the agri IoT project, the brain child of a senior lecturer at the university, Dr Emmanuel Effah, which was sponsored by the World Bank.
The project, the VC explained, “develops sensors which were planted into farms to give real time data on moisture and nutrients in the soil, and signals were sent to the phone of the farmer, and with the press on a button, the irrigation systems supply the needed components to keep the farm very active.”
Prof. Amankwah said, the agricultural system had enhanced the capacity of 203 farmers in the Jama community in the Savanna Region.
“Farmers, who have used this, reported a significant enhancement of yields. The technology has the potential to address the global food insecurity caused by climate change induced drought by ensuring farming all year round,” Prof. Amankwah said.
UMaT, he said, continued to maintain its position among forward looking universities by deepening research and advancing its interactions with government, industry and the community.
Prof. Amankwah noted that UMaT focused on smart systems and technology as part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Agenda, using technical, soft and digital skills.
He noted most digital and smart machines were manufactured as demonstration tools, but “UMaT would use them for people to try them for the benefit of the university and the country.”
Prof. Amankwah said “We want to improve the ability of our students to appreciate and develop these skills. The content of many courses have been upgraded and new ones have been introduced, to improve the appreciation of artificial intelligence, machine learning and the Internet of Things, to improve the practical requirements for developing the technical and digital skills indicated.”
He said UMaT was developing a 250-seater smart systems centre with funding of $600,000 from Iduapriem AngloGold Ashanti, which would be opened to the university community and anybody interested in improving knowledge in artificial intelligence.
Prof. Amankwah said “Artificial Intelligence, robotics and innovation, machine learning, festivals would be held, to attract basic, secondary and tertiary students.”
The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum, applauded UMaT for advancing education, and also helping to build a prosperous future for Ghanaians.
Chairman of the UMaT Council, Very Rev. Prof. J.O.Y Mante, reminded the public that the university was established with a mandate to train professionals in mining, petroleum technology and allies towards the development of Ghana, Africa and beyond.
