Skip to main content

Personality of the Week: Mr Andrew Kyeremanteng Anokye

Mr Anokye, MATESA PTW


For this week, our Personality Dialogue dial falls on a stalwart of the Department, Mr Andrew Kyeremanteng Anokye, a level 300 Materials Engineering student. He has great interest in Writing and is specially interested in Foundry Technology. Enjoy the 'ride' with him.

Who is Mr Andrew Anokye? 
Mr Anokye is a Christian gentleman who believes that as humans we have the greatness within to do more!

What was your experience like in secondary school?
Secondary school was a great place to be. I enjoyed every bit of my stay in PRESEC-Legon, where I chalked some successes. It was not just a good experience, but a great one.

Materials Engineering. Were you given the programme or you really wanted to do it? What informed your decision if you chose it? 
I wanted to be a Civil Engineer. My Uncle inspired me and that was my dream program. I was given Materials Engineering and at the beginning, the interest for the program wasn't there. I developed interest in second year after I realized how important Materials Engineers will be in the near future. Almost everything about the program motivates me, and I usually tell my colleagues about the fact that Ghana, Africa and the world has a bright future with Materials Engineers.

How has the programme been so far?
It's been stressful to be honest. But I believe that success is not achieved on a silver platter. So yes we may go through a lot as students of the program but it will definitely end in praise.

Why did you choose KNUST among all the other institutions in the country and beyond? 
I chose KNUST because of three things; Engineering, Conti and Kumasi. I wanted to offer Engineering and nothing else, and KNUST was the best place to be as far as Engineering is concerned. I had heard a lot about Conti and I wanted to be a part of that Conti feeling. Funnily enough, I used to pray about it.

Has there been any challenge pertaining to Materials Engineering? 
Yes there has. I think that the courses demand a lot of time and as a person I'm very busy. Hence, I struggle to grasp everything we study. The practical aspect of the program is also low; we do more of theory and I personally sometimes find it difficult to relate with some of the things taught in class.

What positions have you held so far in your academic life? 
I've held many positions from JHS through to SHS and even now in the University. I would like to mention a few:
Senior Prefect - Abundant Grace JHS
Prime Technical Advisor, PRESEC SRC
General Secretary - PRESEC Quiz Writers and Debaters Club
General Secretary - PRESEC Catholic Students Union
Editor-in-Chief of THE HUB, KNUST
Public Relations Officer, Rotaract-KNUST
Deputy Public Relations Officer, KNUST-SRC

Deputy PRO of KNUST SRC. Please tell us briefly about what you do?
As Deputy PRO, I assist the PRO to do the following:
Plan publicity strategies and campaigns; write and produce communiques and press releases; deal with enquiries from the public, the press, and related organisations.

How are you able to effectively perform your duty as a leader?
I am able to do so due to my interest in Media related activities. By God's grace, I'm an expert when it comes to Public Relations; making my work very easy and proving the fact that I'm competent for the job.

Please tell us how you manage to blend social and academic responsibilities?
It's very difficult but I try as much as possible to stay focused. I'm here as a student and in as much as I have responsibilities as PRO I make sure my academics is a priority.

Any achievements or awards?
I was nominated for the Best Student Journalist Award at the NUGS Excellence Awards 2019, but unfortunately that event didn't come off. I knew very well that with my hard work as Editor-in-Chief of The HUB, I was going to take that award. Also I received Citations from the Office of the SRC Speaker of Parliament (2018/2019) and the Electoral Commission of the SRC for reporting accurate information with respect to their offices.
Back in SHS, I received an award for being the Best SRC Executive and an Exemplary Leader award at the school's Speech and Prize Giving day.

What or who inspires you?
Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah inspires me. He is the Minister of Information and a former Media Broadcast Journalist. He inspires me because I see myself in the future whenever I see him, as a man of Integrity, intelligence, eloquence and humility.

What is your vision and mission in life?
My mission in life is to grow. I do not want to stay the same person forever, limited by my past, my weaknesses, or my belief system. I want to push past anything hindering me and reach heights I didn’t even know existed. My vision is to build wealth, to experience life, love and family.

Which extracurricular activities do usually engage in? 
I'm a Rotaractor. We believe in Service to Humanity. Hence we undertake certain social responsibility projects to give back to society.

Any favourite motivational quote?
I don't have a favourite quote. I don't memorize or keep quotes, I understand them. Hence I don't have a favourite.

How do you see the Department so far? Are there any improvements you would want to see?
There's massive improvement honestly. I'm very much excited and proud of the current Department executives. They're doing a great job. The Department really has a future!

When it comes to Materials Engineering, what field are you particularly interested in and why? 
I'm interested in the Foundry aspect of the program. This is because I believe Africa has a future with casting processes in particular.

What do you think about the way we are taught here in the university?
We need to improve upon that. Personally, I feel we're sticking to the old ways and that's affecting the current generation. The world is changing, and as a Science and Technology University, we need to be innovative in our style of teaching.

The Core of Engineering Technology, what does this mean to you? 
Without us Engineering is nothing. That's basically what it means. We're the pivot of Engineering.

What should we expect from you in the next few years?
In the next few years expect ANDREW ANOKYE to be causing visible change in Africa.

Please share with us. your last words. 
I would like to say that, as students we must never forget the G-factor – the God factor. I've faced serious challenges in my life especially as a student, but I strongly believe in the Uncommon Favour of God, that is "the magic they don't understand".
Thanks for this great opportunity. I appreciate.

Thank you too Mr Anokye. That was so much too learn from you. We appreciate your time and your words.

Up next is Lady of the Month. Be on the look out! Thanks for reading. Hope your time was well served.

Comments

See Also

The Chemistry between Matter and Communication

[Opinion - 5 min read] In this article, I use communication and language; matter and material interchangeably. Basically, both are related in this way – without matter, there is no communication, meaning that matter is the object of communication. The aim of this write-up is for us to appreciate the fact that communication is a key factor in our daily living and hence we must pay critical attention thereof. Let's understand some underlying terms herein as we move on. Communication is the means by which different matter relate with other; it can be verbal or non-verbal, interpersonal or intrapersonal, etc. We communicate mainly through our actions, speech and thoughts. Matter is what makes up the physical world; the things that can be seen or felt, including people and other material in the environment. [Read also: Dear Writer!  ] Having gotten these, let us now look at how communication (language) affects material (matter) in these four well-known areas: Busin...

Alternate Building Materials Used in The Construction Industry

PC: theconstructor.org Alternate building materials are those which can be used economically by replacing the conventional building materials. Alternate building materials are made from waste products and thus they minimize environmental pollution. These alternate building materials can be used when they meet their respective specifications in the code of practice. Here are some novel construction materials and technology, with some briefly discussed: Aluminum Bitumen Materials Soil Conditioning Agents Tempered Glass Crumb Rubber Fiber Reinforced Polymer Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics Bamboo reinforced plastics Ferro-cement Polyester Fibers ALUMINIUM sound-proof-aluminium-construction. PC: theconstructor.org More than 3000 commercialized applications. 35 percent aluminum produced is used in construction. Non-Corrosive. High durability and low maintenance. Can be alloyed. Ductile and malleable. Aesthetically attractive. Applications of Aluminum In...

World Engineering Day For Sustainable Development – Maiden Edition

Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that never has been. ~ Theodore von Kármán (1881-1963)  A UNESCO International Day, An Annual Celebration, Every 4th March-to highlight the achievements of engineers and engineering in our modern world and improve public understanding of how engineering and technology is central to modern life and sustainable development. The 17 colours of the UN Sustainable Development Goals are included in the logo and represent the commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda. The colours at the centre of the image are for the Sustainable Development Goals for Water, Energy, Sustainable Infrastructure and Innovation. These are the main areas where engineers are needed most. The goal for Engineering Education is also central as the world needs more engineers with the right engineering skills for sustainable development. World Engineering Day logo Engineers and engineering will be celebrated each year, as well as the important cont...

Lady of The Month: Ms Mary Ghartey

Mary Ghartey Our premier Lady of The Month for 2020 is Mary Acheampong Ghartey, a level 300 Materials Engineering student. She comes from and resides in Winneba. Nsaba PRESEC in the Central Region is her alma mater, there she served as the Science Club secretary. She was the assistant head girls'  prefect in basic school. She's a member of the Latter Day Saints Students' Association (LDSSA). Currently, she's a sector leader in LDSSA and the secretary for KNUST Taekwondo team. Her hobbies include reading novels and watching sitcoms. She wants to pursue a career in the plastic processing industry. As they say, anticipate our next Lady of The Month.

New 'Artificial Leaf' That Converts Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel

Scientists have created an “artificial leaf” to fight climate change by inexpensively converting harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) into a useful alternative fuel. The new technology, outlined in a paper published on November 4, 2019, in the journal Nature Energy, was inspired by the way plants use energy from sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into food. “We call it an artificial leaf because it mimics real leaves and the process of photosynthesis,” said Yimin Wu, an engineering professor at the University of Waterloo who led the research. “A leaf produces glucose and oxygen. We produce methanol and oxygen.” Making methanol from carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to global warming, would both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide a substitute for the fossil fuels that create them. The key to the process is a cheap, optimized red powder called cuprous oxide. An hour-long chemical reaction creates the engineered red powder that is the key to new technology to tur...

History of Man As Determined by The Prevailing Materials Technology of a Particular Era

Compiled by Abena Osei-Anane   [5 min read] The ages of materials technology - PC: pininterest.cl Earth’s beginnings can be traced back 4.5 billion years ago, but human evolution only counts for a tiny speck of its history. The pre-history period where there was no documentation of human activities roughly dates from about 2-5 million years ago to 600BC and is categorised in three archaeological periods: the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age . These periods are characterised by the prevailing Materials Technology present at a particular time. STONE AGE Getty images The Stone Age was the first age and the longest, from 30,000BC to 3,000BC. This era was marked by the use of stones to make tools and weapons . During the paleolithic period, early humans lived in small caves and were mostly hunters. They used basic stone tools as well as stone axes for hunting birds and other wild animals. They were the first to leave behind art by carving small figurines from stones,...

Non-stick surface technology

By Hilda Kafui Nuworku [3min read] Non-stick is a surface engineered to reduce the ability of other materials to stick to it. Non-stick is often used to refer to surfaces coated with Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE),  but in the 21st century other coatings have been marked as non-stick, such as anodized aluminum,  ceramics, cast iron, carbon steel and many others. Cast iron, carbon steel, cast aluminium and steel cookware may be seasoned by applying fat to the surface and heating to polymerize the fat. This produces a dry hard smooth, hydrophobic coating, which is non-stick when food is in it. Polytetrafluroethylene is a synthetic fluoropolymer or tetrafluoroethylene that has numerous applications. Its well known brand is Teflon® , by Chemours,  a polymer company. PTFE molecular structure. PC: susbtech.com Properties of PTFE: It's a fluorocarbon solid, with a high molecular weight. It's hydrophobic due to the high electronegativity of Fluorine. It ...

Seater of The Week: Mr Abdul Latif Abubakar

Meet our Sports Personality of the Week, Mr Abdul-Latif Abubakar: a hard working gentleman and the current MATESA electoral commissioner. Mr.Latif - SOTW Who is Mr.Latif Abubakar?(Relationship status:dating, broken up, gnashing) Well, this question is a bit difficult to answer since day in and day out, people change and grow. But I will say Abdul Latif Abubakar is a young hard working gentleman who believes in self-discipline. Ha-ha, sure I’m dating. Share with us your experience in secondary school.What is the worst you ever did in school you really regret. I attended T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Kumasi (Real Amass). My SHS life was very fun and nice. I will say, I didn’t really struggle over there; and because I was a very hard working and discipline guy, everyone liked me. Oh not really (on the worst thing) but I think my only regret was forcing some mates to adhere to the school rules and regulations since I was a prefect. Why did you choose KNUST over t...

Seater of The Week--Nana Kwame Asa-Mensah

Nana Kwame, aka DJ Enkay In today's edition of Sports Seat we come across a hardworking, committed and good-humoured young man of the Department. He tells us about himself, MATESA and also sports (football). Enjoy! Who is Mr Asa-Mensah Kwame? ( Mandatory: relationship status--single, married, broken up (ended in tears) or crushing?) I am Nana Kwame Asa-Mensah, a third year Metallurgical engineering student. I'm 20 years old and in Evandy hostel. I attended Mfantsipim school and I'm a jovial person. I am not single. Saa? What was your experience like in secondary school? Attending a boys' school is fun and challenging because of the high peer influence and one could easily fall prey but enjoyable because of all the fun and excellence accredited to a school like mine. Metallurgical Engineering. Were you given the programme or you really wanted to do it? What informed your decision if you chose it? Personally, I wanted to study Petrochemical Engineeri...

Advisory Committee

 Abekah  Baah  Oliver , Advisor  This committee is headed by the Advisor.  It includes all class representatives of the various year groups. The committee advises the entire Executive Body and its members on matters concerning MATESA.