Engineering Leader Calls for Long-Term Industrial Plans In Africa

Professor Douglas Boateng, a keynote speaker at the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and Professor Douglas Boateng Annual Lectures, urged African nations to move away from short-term thinking and establish long-term industrial policies.

Focus on Long-Term Vision

• Criticized short electoral cycles (often 4 years) as hindering sustainable industrial development.
• Advocated for planning horizons of at least 7 years to focus on long-term goals.
• Praised engineers for their long-term approach to projects like building bridges and factories.
• Highlighted the need for a mindset shift towards long-term planning for Africa’s “Vision 2057” goals.

Prioritizing Domestic Production

• Called for a separate “Ministry of Industrialisation” to prioritize domestic production.
• Criticized current trade policies that focus on importing goods that could be manufactured locally.
• Emphasized the need to build domestic production capacity before focusing on trade.

Engineering as the Cornerstone

• Both Professor Boateng and Ing. Kwabena Bempong, GhIE president, stressed the importance of engineering in driving industrial transformation.
• Highlighted the role of engineers in developing innovative solutions and optimizing resources.
• Used the example of Ghana’s poultry industry, crippled by short-sighted policies despite domestic production potential.

Unlocking Africa’s Potential

• Speakers emphasized the need for long-term industrial policies for economic growth across various sectors.
• Cited Africa’s abundant resources as a key advantage for domestic production.
• Advocated for utilizing local resources to solve Africa’s own problems through engineering solutions.

Moving Forward

• Professor Boateng confirmed discussions are underway with parliamentarians to address these issues.
• The lectures mark a significant step for Ghana’s engineering community to provide policy guidance for Africa’s industrial development.