REPORT ON THE GHANA REPORT ON THE GHANA FAB-LAB PRESENTED AT THE FAB-LAB PRESENTED AT THE

DIGITAL AND PERSONAL DIGITAL AND PERSONAL FABRICATION CONFERENCE. FABRICATION CONFERENCE.

VENUE: INNOVATION HUB, VENUE: INNOVATION HUB, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA.PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA.

26th - 30th JUNE 2006. 26th - 30th JUNE 2006.

Takoradi Technical InstituteTakoradi Technical Institute

Fab-Lab BuildingFab-Lab Building

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION We present to you a team from the Ghana Fab Lab made up of We present to you a team from the Ghana Fab Lab made up of

John Sylvester Boafo - Principal of the Institute, Mr. John Ocran John Sylvester Boafo - Principal of the Institute, Mr. John Ocran the Vice Principal (Administration), Mr Emmanuel Azasoo the the Vice Principal (Administration), Mr Emmanuel Azasoo the Fab Lab Manager and Master Abdulai Adam a second year Fab Lab Manager and Master Abdulai Adam a second year Automotive Engineering student and a Fab Lab assistant. In Automotive Engineering student and a Fab Lab assistant. In addition, we a representative from the metropolitan office, in the addition, we a representative from the metropolitan office, in the person of Mr. Jake Ntiamoah, and a two member Fab Lab person of Mr. Jake Ntiamoah, and a two member Fab Lab volunteers from Boston namely Mr. Martin Meo and Miss. Janice volunteers from Boston namely Mr. Martin Meo and Miss. Janice Lichtman with the Ghanaian team.Lichtman with the Ghanaian team.

TTI as a Co - Educational Institution offers courses in Seven TTI as a Co - Educational Institution offers courses in Seven disciplines in engineering and building.disciplines in engineering and building.

The Institute is privileged to have the Fab Lab established The Institute is privileged to have the Fab Lab established through the initiative of BOSEKTA- an association of Sekondi – through the initiative of BOSEKTA- an association of Sekondi – Takoradi citizens and their friends in Bosten with assistance from Takoradi citizens and their friends in Bosten with assistance from M.I.T.M.I.T.

THE VISION OF THE INSTITUTETHE VISION OF THE INSTITUTE

TTITTI has made it as a trade mark that: has made it as a trade mark that:

- students acquire technical and vocational - students acquire technical and vocational skills training and qualifications that meet skills training and qualifications that meet the changing needs of the labour market,the changing needs of the labour market,

-training is consistent with Ghana’s Growth -training is consistent with Ghana’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS), and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS),

-Training contributes to Private Sector -Training contributes to Private Sector Development.Development.

MISSION OF TTIMISSION OF TTI

Our mission is to strive to be second to none Our mission is to strive to be second to none in the production of middle level manpower in the production of middle level manpower for industry and self - employment.for industry and self - employment.

FAB LAB FAB LAB GOALGOAL

Our goal is to identify community problems Our goal is to identify community problems and find solutions to them;and find solutions to them;

We are looking at developing the abundant We are looking at developing the abundant natural resources (solar and wind energy )natural resources (solar and wind energy )

to power machines and mechanize our rural to power machines and mechanize our rural agriculture and the Arts and Craft Industry.agriculture and the Arts and Craft Industry.

FAB-LAB FAB-LAB PATRONAGEPATRONAGE

Patronage has been very encouraging; Patronage has been very encouraging; comprising the following:comprising the following:

Students of the Institute Students of the Institute Students from the Basic Schools and other Students from the Basic Schools and other

second cycle Institutions , second cycle Institutions , Universities and Polytechnics,Universities and Polytechnics, Adults from the community which include Adults from the community which include

Opinion Leaders, teachers, trade Opinion Leaders, teachers, trade associations, NGO’s etc.associations, NGO’s etc.

PROJECTSPROJECTS Some of the projects initiated are yet to be completed.Some of the projects initiated are yet to be completed. To realize our goal which have been outlined above, we are working out the To realize our goal which have been outlined above, we are working out the

possibility of developing wind and solar projects that will be of immense benefit to possibility of developing wind and solar projects that will be of immense benefit to the rural agro industry.the rural agro industry.

The need for this development become necessary as a result of increase in The need for this development become necessary as a result of increase in population leading to a high demand for energy without corresponding increase in population leading to a high demand for energy without corresponding increase in Hydro source. This calls for an alternative source of which thermal is expensive.Hydro source. This calls for an alternative source of which thermal is expensive.

In the process we held meetings with local Non- Governmental Organizations that In the process we held meetings with local Non- Governmental Organizations that support programs for enterprise empowerment and development, and another support programs for enterprise empowerment and development, and another working on solar panel projects so as to find out what the facility at centre can offer working on solar panel projects so as to find out what the facility at centre can offer to improve the product quality.to improve the product quality.

We have also had series of meetings with the University of Cape Coast for a We have also had series of meetings with the University of Cape Coast for a necessary collaboration between the Institutions in the sharing of resources as well necessary collaboration between the Institutions in the sharing of resources as well as technology transfer to the mutual benefit of the communities. There are signs of as technology transfer to the mutual benefit of the communities. There are signs of successful collaboration after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been successful collaboration after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been completed.completed.

Through knowledge sharing with Fab-Lab volunteers digital electronics is being Through knowledge sharing with Fab-Lab volunteers digital electronics is being infused into our mechanical capabilities; this we hope would propel us into a new infused into our mechanical capabilities; this we hope would propel us into a new digital revolutionary world. The following slides shows excerpts of the activities at the digital revolutionary world. The following slides shows excerpts of the activities at the Lab.Lab.

TTI STUDENT- Abubakari working TTI STUDENT- Abubakari working on a seven segment display on a seven segment display

circuitcircuit

An enthusiastic Polytechnic An enthusiastic Polytechnic Student (Gibril) working on a Student (Gibril) working on a

counter ciruit.counter ciruit.

TTI- POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS WORKING TO FINISH

THE DISPLAY CIRCUIT

A ClockA Clock

Volunteers and students working at the Lab.

PROJECTIONSPROJECTIONS

Our projections for the coming years include Our projections for the coming years include developing energy to power small scale industry. developing energy to power small scale industry. Eg. Solar and wind in the areas of irrigation. Eg. Solar and wind in the areas of irrigation.

Construction of the Fab – Lab Complex to Construction of the Fab – Lab Complex to enhance and expand the scope of operation of the enhance and expand the scope of operation of the Fab Lab.Fab Lab.

Making the Fab-Lab concept available to the other Making the Fab-Lab concept available to the other 23 sister Technical Institutions scattered all over 23 sister Technical Institutions scattered all over the country.the country.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION In summary, the Ghana Fab-Lab:In summary, the Ghana Fab-Lab: Is managed by a team of officers from the Institute, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Is managed by a team of officers from the Institute, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan

Assembly and counterparts from MIT.Assembly and counterparts from MIT. Our vision is to provide quality training with the application of personal digital fabrication Our vision is to provide quality training with the application of personal digital fabrication

to our mechanical capabilities to enhance national development.to our mechanical capabilities to enhance national development. Our goal is also to identify communal problems and find solutions to them.Our goal is also to identify communal problems and find solutions to them. In addition we are looking at the possibility of utilizing the abundant natural resources to In addition we are looking at the possibility of utilizing the abundant natural resources to

enhance poverty reduction.enhance poverty reduction. The Lab is highly patronised by people form the academia, industry, NGO’s etc.The Lab is highly patronised by people form the academia, industry, NGO’s etc. Some projects were initiated with others completed (prototype for exhibition)Some projects were initiated with others completed (prototype for exhibition) We are also developing an MOU for effective collaboration with research Institutions We are also developing an MOU for effective collaboration with research Institutions

such as Univ. of cape Coast.such as Univ. of cape Coast. Our ultimate projection is to expand both in facility and scope to meet the increasing Our ultimate projection is to expand both in facility and scope to meet the increasing

demand of the community. demand of the community. We would like to use this platform to thank our sponsors Advance Manufacturing We would like to use this platform to thank our sponsors Advance Manufacturing

Technology Strategy and the Center for Bits and Atoms of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Strategy and the Center for Bits and Atoms of Massachusetts Institute of Technology for their supportTechnology for their support

Thank you for your attention.Thank you for your attention.