The General Manager for Engineering & Services at Tesla Electrical & Auto Ltd, Richmond Botwey, has called on Ghana to prioritise engineering innovation and nurture young talent if the country is to fully benefit from the vast opportunities within the engineering sector.

Speaking at the World Engineering Day 2026 Symposium organised by the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, Botwey stressed that engineers remain central to global development and technological advancement.

According to him, modern society cannot function without engineering, noting that nearly every aspect of human life—from infrastructure and communication to defence and manufacturing—relies heavily on the work of engineers.

“The world we live in cannot survive without engineers,” he said. “When you talk about technology, infrastructure, or even national security, engineers are at the centre of it.”

Botwey observed that while engineering continues to drive progress in many advanced countries, Ghana has yet to fully harness its potential in the sector.

He urged policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to begin developing solutions locally rather than relying heavily on imported technologies.

According to him, innovation does not necessarily require sophisticated equipment at the beginning, but rather a willingness to start small and gradually improve.

“We do not need the biggest equipment to begin engineering development. We just need to start something and build on what we have,” he said.

He pointed to global examples where technologies initially dismissed later became dominant in the global market, stressing that Ghana must not be afraid to experiment and innovate.

Botwey also called for greater emphasis on engineering education from the early stages of schooling, suggesting that nurturing curiosity and creativity among young students would help build a strong pipeline of future engineers.

He encouraged students to remain committed to their engineering studies, warning that abandoning the discipline for quick financial gains could limit long-term impact.

“Engineering requires patience and effort. If students stay the course and apply themselves, they will eventually realise the enormous opportunities the profession offers,” he said.

Botwey further emphasised that engineers play a decisive role in shaping the direction of technological progress worldwide.

According to him, innovations such as mobile devices, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing are all products of engineering ingenuity.

“The engineer determines the pace at which the world moves. The technologies we see today exist because engineers imagined and built them,” he noted.

He therefore urged Ghanaian engineers to take pride in their profession and continue contributing to national and global development.

The symposium formed part of activities marking World Engineering Day 2026, bringing together engineers, academics and students to discuss how innovation and digitalisation can support sustainable development.