1.0 Arrival in Ghana; Sunday, 7th August, 2011
The four-man NBRRI delegation arrived in Accra on Sunday, 7th August, 2011 evening. They were picked up from the Accra International Airport and escorted to Noda Hotel, Kumasi, where they lodged for the period of the visit by Dr. N. K. Nsiah Achampong (Head, CID) and Mr. Amponsah, who drove the CSIR-BRRI Welfare Nissan Civilian Bus. The delegation, which was led by Prof. Danladi S. Matawal (D-G/CEO, NBRRI-Abuja), also included Engr. Y. S. Mohammed (Director, Technology Acquisition and Adaptation, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja), Engr. George N. Omange (Director, Planning and IT, NBRRI-Abuja) and Engr. R. B. Lawal (Chief Research Officer, NBRRI-Ota) arrived in Kumasi around mid-night.
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| The Delegation at the Director’s Office The NBRRI delegation arriving at the BRRI premises | |
2.0 Opening Ceremony and Presentations; Monday, 8th August, 2011
The Delegation was transported from the Noda Hotel in the Director’s Toyota V6 Land Cruiser. They were met at the frontage of the BRRI offices by the Scientific Secretary, Mr. Kofi Yankson, who led them to the Director’s office, where they were received and warmly welcomed.
A short Opening Ceremony took place at the Conference Room after which five Presentations were made. The Presenters were:
- Ing. Eugene Atiemo (Overview of CSIR-BRRI)
- Ing. Francis K. Afukaar (Research and Consultancy Activities of the Traffic and Transportation Division)
- Surv. Ernest Osei-Tutu (Research and Consultancy Activities of the Construction Division)
- Mr. Seth Owusu Nyako (Research and Consultancy Activities of the Geotechnical Engineering Division) and
- Prof. D. S. Matawal (Overview of NBRRI).
At the end of the presentations, there were general discussions, after which a group photograph was taken.
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| A group Photograph with the NBRRI Delegation A Cross-Section of Research Scientists seated | |
3.0 Discussions on MoU, Shopping and Dinner; Tuesday, 9th August, 2011
The day’s activities were in three parts.
Part I
Official discussions to review the Action Plan on the existing NBRRI/CSIR-BRRI MOU/Working Documents to ensure its effective implementation took place.
Present at this meeting, representing NBRRI were:
1. Prof. Danladi S. Matawal
2. Engr. Y. S. Mohammed
3. Engr. George N. Omange
4. Engr. R. B. Lawal
Representatives of CSIR-BRRI were:
5. Ing. Eugene Atiemo (Chairman)
6. Ing. Francis K. Afukaar
7. Mr. J. B. Ofiri-Atuahene
8. Mr. Isaac Kofi Yankson (Secretary)
Other discussions revolved around:
1. how to strengthen Staff Exchange Programmes between NBRRI and CSIR-BRRI;
2. setting up a Pilot Pozzolana Plant at NBRRI;
3. logistics and funding strategies for Joint International Conferences;
4. exploration of the possibility of setting up BRRIs in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Côte D’ivoire;
5. collaboration with some Universities; Prof. Matawal informed members that such moves should take off slowly before they are regularized later;
6. Training: NBRRI indicated that they would be interested in curriculum for:
a. Training of artisans in brick making and laying
b. Training of MTTU and Highway Engineers in Road Safety Policy and intervention
7. West African Journal of Building and Road Research (WAJBRR):
a. Dr. Charles Chuka Osadebe (Engineering Geologist) – Editor-in-Chief
b. Dr. Bettie Solomon-Ayeh (Development Planner) – Assistant Editor-in Chief
8. Editorial Board:
a. Prof. D. Matawal, Director-General, NBRRI – Nigeria
b. Prof. M.E. Ibrahim, NBRRI
c. Mr. George Omange, NBRRI
d. Dr. (Mrs) R.E.M. Entsua-Mensah, Deputy Director-General, CSIR – Ghana
e. Ing. Eugene Atiemo, Director, CSIR-BRRI – Ghana
f. Ing. Francis Afukaar, Deputy Director, CSIR-BRRI – Ghana
g. Members for Liberia, Sierra Leone & Gambia would be sought for later on.
9. Standing Committees should be revived
Part II
The NBRRI Delegation was in the afternoon driven to the Central Business District of Kumasi for shopping. From there, they were sent to Bonwire in the Ejisu-Juaben District at their instance, for them to purchase Kente Cloth.
Part III
The Delegation was hosted to a dinner between 7:30PM and 9:15PM at the Noda Hotel where gifts, in the form of Fugu (Smock), were presented to each of them. They expressed their profound gratitude to the Director and Staff for the warm reception accorded them.
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| Ing. Atiemo presenting a gift to Prof. Matawal Ing. Atiemo addressing the gathering at Noda Hotel | |
4.0 Departure from Kumasi; Wednesday, 10th August, 2011
The Delegation departed from Kumasi before 9:00AM in the CSIR-BRRI Welfare Civilian Bus. They visited the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Castle and finally, the Commercial Pozzolana Plant (Pozzolana Ghana Limited) at Gomoa Mprumem, near Apam Junction in the Central Region.
At about 8:30PM, the delegation arrived at Ange Hill Hotel, East Legon-Accra, where they lodged for the night. They flew back to Nigeria in the morning of Thursday, 11th August, 2011.
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| At the Pozzolana Factory, Gomoa Mprumem Sitting in-between two Canons at Castle, with the Atlantic Ocean behind | |
