Ghanaian innovator Frank Owusu named runner-up in Africa’s largest engineering award

Ghanaian engineer Frank Owusu, founder of Aquamet, has been named a runner-up in the 2025 Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, earning £10,000 for his groundbreaking work supporting smallholder fish farmers.

His recognition highlights how African innovators are driving homegrown solutions to pressing challenges in agriculture and food security.

Aquamet is a smart water-quality monitoring system that helps smallholder fish farmers reduce losses, improve yields, and boost sustainability. Using real-time data on oxygen levels and temperature, it enables farmers to make better-informed decisions that protect their fish stock and improve productivity.

Owusu’s idea was inspired by personal experience. During his national service at the Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he worked with farmers who were losing large portions of their stock due to poor water quality.

It was a common problem in Ghana, where fish provides the main protein source for 70% of the population and the aquaculture export industry is worth over US$200 million.

Frank realised that farmers were relying on intuition rather than data to manage ponds, a costly approach that often led to massive losses. Aquamet was born to close this gap, providing an affordable, data-driven solution that gives farmers control over their production environment.

Beyond monitoring, the Aquamet mobile platform offers record-keeping tools, access to extension services, and a digital marketplace where farmers can connect directly with buyers. By digitising farm management, it reduces fish mortality and increases production efficiency.

Looking ahead, Aquamet plans to expand to Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire within five years, reaching over 20,000 fish farmers. The company’s vision is to improve fish farming efficiency while advancing food security and sustainable livelihoods across Africa.

This year’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation drew hundreds of applications from 30 countries, with 16 innovators shortlisted for an eight-month programme covering financial modelling, market analysis, and mentorship.

After pitching alongside fellow finalists to a live audience and a panel of seven judges, Elly Savatia, founder of Terp 360, an AI-powered application that translates speech into sign language, was crowned winner.

He received £50,000 to support the next phase of Terp 360.

Frank Owusu (Ghana) and two other finalists were selected as runners-up: Vivian Arinaitwe (Uganda) with Neo Nest, and Carol Ofafa (Kenya) with E-Safiri, each receiving £10,000.

Rui Bauhofer (Mozambique) won the £5,000 One to Watch prize for Eco-Plates.

“This is exactly what the Africa Prize is all about. It’s showcasing and celebrating cutting-edge innovations by Africans for the world,” said Rebecca Enonchong FREng, Chair of the Africa Prize judging panel.

The final, held in Dakar, Senegal, marked the first time the competition was hosted in Francophone Africa, further highlighting the growing regional reach of Africa’s premier platform for engineering excellence.