Sophia Abena Tijani, a renowned female electrical engineer at the Volta River Authority (VRA), has made history by becoming the president-elect of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GHIE).
She secured 664 votes, accounting for 31.72% of the total 2,093 votes cast, narrowly beating her closest competitor, David Kwatia Nyante, by nine votes in a male-dominated election.
The other contestants were Ing Michael Kwesi Levi Dedey, who pulled 470 votes, Ebenezer Kwesi Haizel, who pulled 256 votes and Daniel K Bainson, who pulled 48 votes.
The elections was held as part of GHIE’s annual general meeting and conference which started on Tuesday March 25 and ended on Friday March 28,2025 with a banquet dinner ceremony.
Ms Tijani will succeed Kwabena Bempong, becoming the first female GHIE President from the Volta River Authority.
As a licensed Professional Electrical Engineer with over 22 years of experience in the electricity industry, Sophia Abena Tijani has made significant contributions to the energy sector.
Her career journey includes working with Electricity Company of Ghana, Volta River Authority (Ghana), Mott MacDonald Inc. (USA), and USAID’s West Africa Energy Program.
Tijani holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Power Engineering from Texas A&M University, an MBA in Finance from Paris Graduate School of Management, and a BSc in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from KNUST.
She is a Fellow of Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), a Senior Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and a Stanford-certified Advanced Project Management Professional.
Profile of president-elect Sophia Abena Tijani (FGhIE)
Sophia A. Tijani is a distinguished electrical engineer with over 22 years of expertise in the energy sector, contributing to reliable electricity supply across Africa and the USA.
Her career spans key organisations, including ECG, VRA, Deloitte, and Mott McDonald’s Inc. (USA), showcasing her technical and strategic acumen.
Her multifaceted experience covers substation protection and control design, equipment maintenance, business planning, financial and economic appraisal, contract management, public procurement and talent development.
A passionate advocate for capacity building, she collaborates with regional bodies such as WAPP, ECREE, GIZ, and AfD to strengthen energy sector capabilities.
A leader in engineering excellence, Sophia Tijani has held various roles in the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), including Vice President and National Councillor, and has served on governing boards like the Ghana Railway Development Authority and Ho Technical University.
She is a Fellow of GhIE, a Senior Member of IEEE, a certified adult trainer, and a Renewable Energy Professional.
She is currently the Manager, Employee Relations & Reward Management, Human Resources at the Volta River Authority.
Her outstanding contributions to gender and energy have also earned her numerous awards locally and internationally.
With a strong commitment to STEM advocacy, professional ethics and excellence, Tijani continues to drive impactful change in Ghana and beyond.
Until she was elected president-elect, Sophia Abena Tijani was the vice president of GHIE.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
Discover more from Energy News Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.