Spotlight
Introducing Jacob Obeng aka “Jake Solo” ….
Most of us started Form One together but you joined us in the sixth form. Why was that?
I chose to attend secondary school at Prempeh College primarily because my immediate family was in Kumasi, where I was born, and it was at the time one of the best secondary schools in Ghana. However, I am half Ga and my extended family homes were in Accra, and my family used to travel to Accra from Kumasi at least four times a year. I always wanted to spend more time in Accra, and so made a decision to attend 6th Form in Accra by the time I started 5th Form at Prempeh College. Achimota School was at the time also one of the best secondary schools in Ghana and mixed gender, which would be a different atmosphere and vibe versus the predominantly male Prempeh College. Achimota School was my first choice for 6th Form, and I was fortunate enough to gain admission based on my good “O”-Levels examination results.
Tell us more about Jacob?
I was born on 22nd September, 1963 in Kumasi, where I lived with my four brothers and parents of Ga heritage until relocating to Accra in 1980. However, I was in the U.S.A. with my immediate family from 1969-1970 while my father was pursuing his PhD degree, and attended elementary school during that one year period. Most of my primary education was at City of Kumasi Preparatory School following which I attended secondary school Forms 1-5 at Prempeh College, where I successfully received my GCE O-level certificate specialising in Mathematics, Sciences and Geography. I attended 6th Form at Achimota School from 1980-1982, where I was in Aggrey House, a science student and received my GCE A-level certificate. I enrolled at University of Ghana, Legon for one year prior to transferring to Iowa State University (I.S.U.) in the U.S.A. in 1984 and obtained my B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering, specializing in R&D and processing of advanced high-technology specialty materials.
Mathematics and Applied Sciences have always been my youthful passion, which enabled me to attain my childhood dream to be an engineer. Most of my engineering career (25+ years) has been as a hands-on product/process engineer in energy storage battery, semiconductor integrated circuits (IC) microchip, and solar energy product manufacturing in U.S.A., Canada, and more recently, in Ghana, where I managed the setup, commissioning and operation of a world-class solar photovoltaic (PV) module factory from 2015-2016. The highlight so far of my professional engineering career was the two years I spent from 1995-1997 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. working as a wafer fabrication process engineer for Intel, the global leader in microprocessor chip technology.
I have been married since December 2013, and have two boys Prince and Junior, 6 years and 2 years old respectively, with my wife Rebecca.
Aside from the above, do you have any other passions, e.g., Sports?
I was a multi-sport student-athlete from elementary school through university excelling in field hockey, soccer and track & field. I was on the field hockey school teams for Prempeh College, Achimota School, University of Ghana, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions. I was on the soccer and track & field teams for Iowa State University, and capped my sporting career playing semi-professional soccer in U.S.A. and Canada from 1992-2002, including featuring as a top striker for New Mexico Chiles of the USISL, two divisions below the current North American Major League Soccer (MLS).
I also have a strong passion for live band music, hanging out/exercising at the beach and gym, spending time with family, and supporting charitable causes. I promoted and organized live reggae and African music concerts in U.S.A., Canada and Ghana, co-managed a few high-profile reggae and Ghanaian musicians, and executive produced musical recordings and videos.
What made you decide to relocate back to Ghana after 25 years in the U.S.A. and Canada?
Primarily due to personal reasons, to spend more time with my aging parents, to reconnect with extended family and old acquaintances. I finally moved back to Ghana in December 2014 just prior to the birth of my first child in January 2015. I eventually took up a senior management role with Strategic Power Solutions (SPS), a Ghanaian-owned renewable energy company with HQ and solar PV module factory in Kpone Industrial Area. Although I spent most of 2019 in Canada, I have spent the bulk of the past five years in Ghana working as a Senior Technical & Business Development Consultant primarily in the renewable energy and manufacturing sectors. Working in Ghana has been a challenge due to the different work culture and management styles, with Ghana being generally a more reactive, less efficient and productive work environment.
What are your thoughts of the fledgling Solar Energy Industry in Ghana?
The solar energy industry in Ghana is promising in the mid to long-term. However, due to the current excess generation capacity versus peak electricity demand of at least 2GW, deployment of utility-scale solar energy power plants has slowed the past few years and will be slow in the near-term. Adoption of small capacity (less than 20kWp) standalone, residential, and mid capacity (100kWp – 5MWp) commercial & industrial (C&I) solar PV systems are ongoing and expected to increase exponentially with the increased availability of reasonable-term financing solutions.
One encouraging development is that a handful of indigenous companies have invested in factories to locally produce major components of solar PV systems, including PV modules, AC/DC inverters, energy storage batteries, and mounting structures. With the Renewable Energy Act (2011) and various long-term commitments by government, the outlook for Ghana’s fledgling solar energy industry is promising and set to transition Ghana from its major dependence on fossil fuels to clean renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) by 2040.
Are you involved in any Voluntary or Charitable activities?
Yes… For at least the past five years, I have provided financial and logistical support to an orphanage in Nsawam-Adoagyiri called the “Eye of The Lord”, which was founded by a partially blind patron, Mr. Samuel Kwapong Darko, and his wife. The orphanage houses and provides on-site education for orphaned children aged a few months to ten years.
I also provide mentorship to the youth in various local communities in the Greater Accra region, in particular in the Ablekuma North constituency where my immediate family home is located. I am also getting more involved in initiatives to clean up our environment, including waste segmentation and recycling of plastics, and as well as political activities at the constituency level.
What is the one dream/ambition that you would like to achieve within the next ten years?
To invest in and get my own registered business, I-Squared Integrated Industries Ltd., off the ground and have sustained growth. The core mandate of I-Squared is to use technological innovations to add value in a sustainable manner to our natural survival resources, including the sun, air, water, food, and eco-friendly housing.
Does Prempeh College have an active year group? And if so, are there any good ideas which OAA80-GC could consider implementing?
Yes… I have been an active member of the Prempeh College Amanfoo 1980 year group since 2013, when I initially relocated to Ghana from Canada.
OAA80-GC is well-organized, active, progressive, and supportive of each other and our alma mater. The only suggestion I will make is for us to consider creating a second WhatsApp group forum with exclusive focus on serious matters, announcements and events relevant to Achimota School and our year group. I believe a majority of us are not able to keep up with all the various messages on the main WhatsApp group forum, and may miss out on some serious discussions or announcements, which get swamped in the multitude of light-hearted messages.
Jacob Obeng
L6(E), U6(E)
Aggrey House