Ghana: Dr. Thomas Mensah, the man behind the “Silicon Valley of Ghana”

Today, we’re introducing Ghanaian-American engineer and fiber optics inventor, Dr. Thomas Mensah. He is know as the brain behind “the Silicon Valley of Ghana”, a center that promotes innovation in technology in Ghana.

Dr. Thomas Mensah

Born in 1950 in Kumasi, Ghana, Mensah is regarded as one of
the leading figures in the invention of optical fiber.He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Montpelier University 1978, and a Certificate in Modeling of Chemical Processes from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1977).

“Mensah has held high-level engineering positions at Air Products and Chemicals (1980-1983), then Corning Glass Works in Fiber Optics research Sullivan Park, New York (1983-1986), where he built the fastest Fiber Optics draw and coating process, which reached 50 meters per second. He holds four patents for this effort. He joined AT&T Bell laboratories in 1986 and led the program to develop fiber optic reels used in the guided missile program. This effort led to the development of a system that was successfully deployed at missile speeds up to Mach 1 (The Speed of sound). He received three US patents on this technology.” (Itnewsafrica)

“As a world expert in the field of advanced materials, Dr. Mensah has worked on specialised projects for NASA (Superconductors for space communications), the US Army (Smart munitions Picatinny Arsenal) and the US Department of Energy, (Fiber optics sensors for Highway Traffic monitoring).”

“Silicon Valley of Ghana”

The Silicon Valley of Ghana, was launched at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) in Accra on January 15, 2018. Dr. Mensah.

Ghana was chosen for its ability to attract and retain major technology companies. There is a desire to “build national technology skills, knowledge and talent to help educate on the importance of competition, confidentiality, technology and future.” (siliconvalleygh.co)

Innovation and competency centres are linked up with the GI-KACE: The University of Ghana, The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, University of Development Studies, and the University of Cape Coast.

It is believed that the creation of these innovation centres’ with business accelerators, will “create industries and job opportunities for graduates and encourage them to stay and work in Ghana to reduce the issue of human capital flight. The best and brightest individuals, will be retained in Ghana, and will help improve the nation.

Silicon Valley of Ghana’s is currently pursuing Projects such as the High speed rail development, Tele-Medecine Programs, Kumasi Airport & Aircrat maintenance Development…