Ing. Dr. Julius Cudjoe Ahiekpor

Designation: 
Director, Institute of Research, Innovation & Development
Staff Grade: 
Senior Lecturer
Brief Bio: 

Dr. Julius Cudjoe Ahiekpor is the Director at the Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development (IRID). He is a Senior Lecturer at the Chemical Engineering Department of Kumasi Technical University. His works spans the areas of sustainable energy production, energy access, and modern energy cooking solutions. He has over 13 years of experience and knowledge in renewable energy technologies and has been involved in several projects and studies including; the identification of barriers to RE technology transfer to Ghana, advocacy for accelerated development of RE based mini-grids in island communities of Ghana, assessment of rural woodstove market, mapping of the clean cooking sector in Ghana, capacity needs assessment for renewable energy and energy efficiency in West Africa, feasibility study and implementation plan to establish 200 institutional biogas systems in Ghana, etc. He is the Bioenergy Coordinator at Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CREK).

Education: 

Ph.D Chemical Engineering (Bioenergy) – University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
MSc (Chemical Engineering) – Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana
BSc (Hons) Chemical Engineering – KNUST, Ghana

Professional Membership: 
Ghana Institution of Engineering
Research Interests: 
Waste to energy conversion and utilization, sustainable modern cooking solutions
Teaching Areas: 

Process dynamics and control, thermodynamics, process equipment design, process plant costing and appraisal, and renewable energy technologies.

Conferences Attended: 

  1. Participated in the Chemical Security and Responsible Care conference, Naivasha, Kenya, 2-3 December, 2019.

  2. Presented at the Renewable Energy and Advocacy Experience sharing conference, Nairobi, Kenya. 29 October – 5 November, 2019

  3. Participated in the Clean Cooking Forum. Nairobi, Kenya. 5 – 10 November, 2019.

  4. Participated in GIZ workshop on the development of RE training programmes for TVET institutions. Kumasi, Ghana. 9 July, 2018.

  5. Participated in ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Workshop on Regional off grid electrification (ROGEP). Accra, Ghana. 27-28 June, 2018.

  6. Participated and presented at the renewable energy curriculum training seminar under the auspices of Partnership for Applied Science (PASS) project. Bonn, Germany. 9-17 June, 2018.

  7. Presented at the Maiden ACCESS West Africa Workshop on the initiatives and strategies for energy access in West Africa in Accra, Ghana. 6-7 December, 2017.

  8. Participated in a bioenergy technology and policy tour in Germany. 22-29 July, 2017.

  9. Participated in a training seminar on Clean Combustion Technologies for Modern Rural Areas of Developing Countries, Hunan Province, China, 8th July – 2nd August, 2016.

  10. Participated in the 3rd International Biofuels conference in Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 14-16 November, 2011.

  11. Participated in a training workshop on biomass and solar PV application for rural electrification, Burkina Faso, 7-11 November, 2011

  12. Participated in a training workshop on solar PV and micro-hydros for rural electrification organised by European Commission in Uganda, October 2011

  13. Participated in a research proposal writing seminar organised by Kumasi Polytechnic, June 2011.

  14. Participated in the first stakeholders consultation on “Draft Bioenergy Policy for Ghana” organised by the Energy Commission on 6 December 2010.

  15. Participated and presented a paper in a workshop on ‘Development of Second Generation Biofuels’ organized by the Energy Center-KNUST and Southampton University on July 29 to August 1, 2010.

  16. Participated in the 3rd Mondialogo/UNESCO Engineering Conference held in Germany on 6th to 9th November 2009.

  17. Participated in National Conference on “Building Partnerships for Scaling-up Improved Environmental Sanitation services” on 8th to 10th December 2010.

  18. Participated in a seminar series on ‘Biofuels’ organized by the Energy Center-KNUST in 2008

Publications: 
  1. Ahiekpor, J.C., Kuye, A.O., Osei-Wusu, A. (2017). Optimization of the pyrolysis of hardwood sawdust in a fixed bed reactor using surface response methodology. Lignocellulose. 6(2). 98-108.

  2. Ahiekpor, J.C., Kuye, A.O., Osei-Wusu, A. (2016). Production of bio-oil in Nigeria: challenges and prospects. Int.J.Curr.Res.Aca.Rev.4(10): 47-57.

  3. Kuye, A., Ahiekpor, J.C., Osei-Wusu, A. (2016). Fast pyrolysis of African Danta Hardwood (Nesogordonia papaverifera) and Obeche Softwood (Triplochiton scleroxylon) sawdust. Journal of Petroleum Technology Development Fund. 6 (2). 67-76.
  4. Joshua, A. J., Ahiekpor, J.C., Kuye, A. (2016). Nigerian hardwood (Nesogordonia papaverifera) sawdust characterization: proximate analysis, cellulose and lignin contents. Lignocellulose. 5(1). 50-58.
  5. Ahiekpor J.C., Antwi, E., Bensah, E.C. (2011). Use of solar water distiller for treatment of fluoride-contaminated water. Journal of Desalination-Elsevier. 278(2011). 333-335.
  6. Bensah, E.C., Antwi, E., Ahiekpor J.C. (2010). Improving sanitation in ghana: the role of sanitary biogas plants. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Volume 5, Issue 2. 125 – 133.
  7. Ahiekpor, J.C. and Kuwornoo, D.K. (2010). Optimization of factors affecting the transesterification of crude palm kernel oil. International Journal of Energy and Environment, 1(4). 675 – 622.
  8. Antwi, E., Ahiekpor J., Arthur, R., Bensah, E.C., and Quansah, A.D., (2010). Ghana’s liquid biofuel policy: challenges and the way forward. International Journal of Energy and Environment, 1 (5). 805 – 814.
  9. Ahiekpor, J.C., Kuwornoo, D.K. (2010). Kinetics of Palm Kernel Oil and Ethanol Transesterification. International Journal of Energy and Environment, 1(6). 1097 – 1108.
  10. Ahiekpor, J.C., Boateng, C.D., Bensah, E.C., (2012). Assessing the Higher National Diploma (HND) Chemical engineering programme in Ghana: Students’ perspective. European Journal of Engineering Education. 1-11.

  11. Ahiekpor J.C., Antwi, E., Bensah, E.C., Ribeiro, X.F. (2015). Determinants of urban household cooking fuel choice in Ghana. International Journal of Current Research. 7(6). 17203-17206.

  12. Bensah, E.C., Antwi, E. Ahiekpor J.C., Ribeiro, J. (2015). A study of the effluent quality of excrement-based biogas plants in Ghana. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Applied Science (IJSEAS). 1(6). 2395-3470.
  13. Owusu, E.S., Ribeiro, X.F.J., Ayensu, E., Antwi, E., Ahiekpor, J.C., Bensah, E.C. (2015). Adoption and utilization of improved cookstoves in Ghana. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development. 4(6). 305-311.
  14. Bensah E. C., Ahiekpor J.C, Boateng C. (2011). Migrating from subject-based to competency-based training in Higher National Diploma Chemical Engineering: the case of Kumasi Polytechnic. Education for Chemical Engineers. 6(2011). 71-82.  doi:10.1016/j.ece.2011.04.001
  15. Ahiekpor, J.C., Boateng, C.D. (2009). Technical reports: prepare and present them. ISBN: 978-9988-1-2765-7.

 

Technical Reports

  1. Ribiero, X.F.J, Bensah, E.C., Ahiekpor, J.C, Antwi, E (2020).
  2. Ahiekpor, J.C, Bensah, E.C. (2019). Integrated School Kitchens Study: The Impact of Clean Cooking Solutions on School Kitchens. World Education Forum Ghana. Accra, Ghana.
  3. Bensah, E.C., Ahiekpor, J.C., Antwi, E. (2018). Ghana Clean Technology Biogas Study. Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC). Accra, Ghana
  4. Ahiekpor, J.C., Bensah E.C., Kemausuor F. (2017). Rural woodstove market study. Netherlands Development Organization. Accra, Ghana
  5. Ahiekpor, J.C., Bensah E.C., Kemausuor F. (2017). Electricity needs assessment and willingness to pay for modern electricity in Island communities of Ghana: A baseline report for Ghana Strategic Partnership for Evidence Based Advocacy (V4CP). Netherlands Development Organization, Accra, Ghana.
  6. Bensah E.C., Ahiekpor, J.C., Kemausuor F., Antwi E. (2015). Identification of barriers to renewable energy technology transfer to Ghana. China-Ghana South-South Cooperation on RE Technology Transfer. UNDP, Accra, Ghana.
  7. Hanekamp, E., Ahiekpor, J.C. (2015). Feasibility study of Ghana’s institutional biogas programme. WO46. Climate Support Facility. Brussels, Belgium.
  8. Ahiekpor, J.C., Ribeiro, J.X.F., Rockson, M.A.D., Bensah, E.C., Antwi, E. (2013). Mapping of stakeholders in the clean cookstove value chain in Ghana. UNDP. Accra, Ghana.
  9. Ahiekpor, J.C. (2013). Overview of solar projects in Ghana. SNV, Accra, Ghana.
  10. Antwi, E., Ahiekpor, J.C., Bensah, E.C., Lamp, J. (2012). Design, construction, and operation of 40 cubic meter fixed dome biogas plant. Netherlands Development Organisation. Accra, Ghana.

 

Conference and Seminar Presentations

  1. Bensah, E.C, Ahiekpor, J.C, Kermausour F. (2019). Rural electrification through RE based mini-grid. Capacity building workshop of District Planning Committee Unit of Kwahu Afram Plains North District Assembly. Donkorkrom, Ghana. 2 April, 2019.

  2. Ahiekpor, J.C. (2018). State of Ghana’s clean cooking sector. Ghana clean cooking forum. AMA Conference Centre, October 30, 2018

  3. Ahiekpor, J.C. (2018). Ghana’s clean cooking sector: Market scope, existing policies, opportunities, and barriers. GHACCO Business Innovative Summit. Tomrek Hotel, March 21, 2018.

  4. Ahiekpor, J.C., Kuye, A.O., and Achaw, OW. (2017). Design and optimization of pyrolysis unit for converting lingo-cellulosic wastes to liquid fuel. Association of African Universities Research Summit. AAU Secretariate, Accra. 1-2 June, 2017.

  5. Ahiekpor, J.C. (2015). Production of bio-oil from agro-forestry waste – challenges and prospects. CREK seminar series, Kumasi Polytechnic, Ghana. 24th February, 2015.

  6. Ahiekpor J.C., Bensah E.C, Antwi E, Promoting decentralised solar water purification systems in Ghana: a case study at Bongo. 3rd Ghana Water forum, Ministry of water, works and housing. Ghana. 5-7 September, 2011. Accra Ghana.

  7. Ahiekpor J.C, Bensah E. C., Antwi E. (2011). Anaerobic wastewater treatment plant for the treatment of organic waste and wastewater at Kumasi abattoir: A CDM project. Growing green through the rule of law: Capacity Building for carbon markets for Africa, ACDLP, GIMPA, Accra, Ghana.

  8. Antwi E, Bensah E.C, Ahiekpor J.C., Ghana’s revised environmental sanitation policy 2010: a review. 3rd Ghana Water Forum, Ministry of water, works and housing. Ghana. 5-7 September, 2011. Accra Ghana.

  9. Bensah E.C, Antwi E, Ahiekpor J.C., Boadu E. Quality drinking water for rural communities. Technology options. 3rd Ghana Water Forum, Ministry of water, works and housing. Ghana. 5-7 September, 2011. Accra Ghana.

  10. Asase, M., Ahiekpor, J.C., Bensah E.C., and Antwi, E., (2010). Sustainable production and consumption. Seminar organised for KNUST students by UNEP and Otumfo’s Charity Foundation

  11. Ahiekpor, J.C. and Kuwornoo, D.K. (2009). Factors Affecting the Transesterification of Crude Palm Kernel Oil, presented at the 1st National Polytechnics Research Conference in 2009 at Dodowa, Ghana.

  12. Bensah, E.C, Ahiekpor J.C., Antwi, E., Arthur, R., and Quansah A., (2010). Improving Sanitation in Ghana: The Role of Sanitary Biogas Plants. Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Applied Research Conference of Koforidua Polytechnic, Koforidua, Ghana; May, 2010.

Department: 
Chemical Engineering