The Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES) at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) proudly participated in the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) program, held from April 7–9, 2025, at Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana.
The ACE@10 event marked a significant milestone, reflecting on a decade of strengthening higher education in Africa through advanced postgraduate training, applied research, and regional partnerships. Under the theme “A Decade of Impact: Advancing Excellence in Higher Education and Research”, the gathering brought together over 500 stakeholders, including government representatives, university leaders, researchers, development partners, and industry experts.
High-Level Speeches and Highlights
The opening ceremony was graced by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, who emphasized the critical role higher education and research excellence play in building a knowledge-driven African economy. Keynote speeches by Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, and representatives from the World Bank and the Association of African Universities (AAU) celebrated the transformative achievements of the ACE program over the past decade.
Special sessions explored sustaining the momentum of the ACE initiative, deepening industry-academia partnerships, advancing gender equity in STEM, and preparing the next generation of African researchers and innovators.
One of the major highlights of the event was the Innovation Exhibition, where Centres of Excellence showcased research outputs, technological developments, and success stories driving regional impact.
RCEES Participation and Innovations Exhibited
RCEES made a strong impression at the Innovation Exhibition with a focus on electric mobility solutions developed through hands-on research and engineering. The Centre exhibited:
Conversion of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Motorcycles to Electric Battery Power: Demonstrating a practical, scalable pathway for transitioning conventional motorcycles into clean, electric alternatives.
Transformation of Standard Bicycles into Electric Bicycles: Introducing a custom solution that enables bicycles to move entirely with battery-powered assistance, without the need for pedaling.
Design and Construction of Battery-Driven Motors: Showcasing motors built from scratch, optimized for sustainable transportation applications.
These innovations reflect RCEES’s mission to drive sustainable energy solutions, foster technological self-reliance, and address mobility challenges in Ghana and beyond.
RCEES Delegation at ACE@10
The RCEES delegation at the event included:
Prof. Nana Sarfo Agyemang Derkyi – Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor of UENR
Prof. Eric Ofosu Antwi – Centre Director, RCEES
Prof. Samuel Gyamfi – Deputy Centre Director, RCEES
Mr. Samuel Okyereh Akowuah – Project Coordinator, RCEES
Their participation underscored the Centre’s strong commitment to regional collaboration, research excellence, and innovation-driven education.
