Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Mr. Joe Anokye, has been given an honorary doctorate in recognition of his outstanding achievement and “significant contribution to Ghana’s telecommunication industry” by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
KNUST sang the praises of Mr Anokye as they highlighted his stellar rise as a graduate from the university to the prowess of “a globally distinguished telecommunications expert”.
He was awarded at the 57th Congregation of KNUST on Friday, November 24, as the Chancellor of KNUST, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, adorned him with full doctoral regalia.
A citation accompanying the honours acknowledged Mr Anokye as “a talented and accomplished technologist with an unmatched ability to direct key information and support services”.
“Your passion for coaching and developing technology teams and your unquenchable drive to break new bounds in the telecommunication industry led you and your team of network engineers to collaborate in many telecommunication network installations with companies such as Cisco Systems, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, European Science Agency, German Space Operations Centre and the United States Postal Services.
“You are on record as having successfully managed the full cycle of the NASA integrated telecommunication services policy implementation for the NASA mission network.
“Back in Ghana, your immense contribution to the evolving phase of the National Communications Authority (NCA) cannot be overlooked.
“Among your numerous innovations, creating of mobile network opportunities to expand 3G coverage in underserved and unserved communities to improve universal access is worth mentioning,” portions of the citation read.
He was named an honorary Doctor of Science shortly after “his insightful” presentation to become only the 12th personality in the league of elites honoured with the opportunity to headline the prestigious Dr Robert Patrick Baffour Memorial Lectures.
He delivered a three-part lecture series on the theme: KNUST After 70: A New Age for a Renewed Focus in an Era of Disruptive Technologies.
The lecture detailed KNUST’s history of remarkable growth in science and technology education, resilience and adaptability in the digital space.
The second part of Mr Anokye’s lecture focused on Ghana’s digitalization drive and response to the new age of disruptive technologies, while the final section provided a blueprint for KNUST in the era of disruptive technologies.
KNUST Centre of Excellence in Disruptive Technologies (CEDiT)
To climax his lectures, he proposed the establishment of a KNUST Centre of Excellence in Disruptive Technologies (CEDiT).
“A world-class centre for research, innovation, incubation, acceleration and hands-on skills development of existing and emerging disruptive Technologies in both hardware and software,” he suggested.
“The centre of excellence should become our version of the Silicon Valley, where technology enthusiasts, innovators, entrepreneurs and investors from Ghana, Africa and all over the world will come and learn about disruptive technologies of today and the future”.
Mr Anokye pointed out that the current digital era demands audacious projects like CEDiT to drive a practical approach to education and development.
The NCA boss told KNUST authorities that CEDiT should focus on but not be limited to big data and analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum computing, advanced robotics, computer assembly, education technology, extended, augmented and virtual reality, 5G and beyond, internet of things blockchain and cryptocurrency, biotechnology, 3D printing, agricultural technology, smart cities and infrastructures, wearable technology, biometric and security systems, brain-computer interfaces, nanotechnology, environmental technology and advanced transportation.
The programme was graced by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the special guest of honour.
Profile of Mr Joe Anokye
Mr Joe Anokye is a Telecommunication Executive well-vested in a wide range of Telecommunication Management, Telecommunication Networks and Cyber Security platforms in both public and private sectors.
He has over thirty (30) years of hands-on technical and management experience across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.
From January 1997 to February 2016, Mr Anokye worked on several contracts at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland – the USA, as a Senior Telecommunications Consultant, including supervising NASA’s Global Mission Telecommunication Wide Area Network (WAN) technical team.
During his time at NASA, Mr Anokye worked collaboratively with Telecom and Network engineers from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the German Space Operations Centre, the Canadian Space Agency, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and many other national Space Programs like the Jet Propulsion Lab in California.
In recognition of his efforts, he received the 2007 Employee of the Year Award from the NASA Information Technology Services contract at Marshal Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville – Alabama, for outstanding technical services to the NASA Mission Telecommunications Network.
Mr Anokye was a premier Cisco Technical Instructor from 1999 through 2016 in Washington D.C, USA Metropolitan Area.
He taught and mentored many telecommunications, network, and systems engineers working with governmental and private institutions within the security, financial, and regulatory areas.
From 1999 to 2001, Mr Anokye consulted for Sprint Nextel (Managed Network Services).
He was the Network Technical Engineer responsible for major accounts like KMART, Charles Schwab, UNICOR and Federal Prisons Industries, to name a few.
As the principal network architect, he developed the Telecommunications Master Plan from which a design was made to install the network infrastructure to support the ICT systems used for the Year 2011 Population Census of Bangladesh, a country with a population of over 140 Million.
In addition to the plan, Mr Anokye provided local and continuous technical support for the implementation in Bangladesh.
He was the Chief Technology Officer of JMAT Systems, LLC, an Information Services company established in 2007 and headquartered in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA, offering Information Technology and Security Services to commercial, state, and Federal Government customers.
Within Africa, Mr Anokye has also worked on various Telecommunication Networks projects in Africa, primarily in Ghana and Liberia.
In Ghana, he has consulted for the Merchant Bank and, in addition, trained on behalf of CISCO, staff of Ghana Telecom, Merchant Bank Ghana Ltd and the telecommunication wing of the National Security’s Bureau of National Communication.
Mr Joe Anokye was appointed Acting Director-General of the National Communications Authority on January 24 2017, and confirmed on January 15 2018.
A talented and accomplished Technology Executive who was awarded the Best Telecommunications Industry CEO of the Year 2017 (Public Sector), Mr Anokye has a proven record in leading technology transformation, improvement initiatives and aligning technology services with business objectives.
He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Ghana’s communication industry. He will be instrumental in efforts to expand Ghana’s communication network to support our developmental objectives.
Mr Anokye obtained his first degree in Geodetic Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and his MBA from the University of Maryland University College, USA.
In August 2019, he was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in National and International Security Programme from the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.