-The invention now known as the water bicycle was built to move on water
-According to the inventor, the bicycle inspired by a documentary of how some children went to school Frank Darko, the young Ghanaian tertiary
dropout, who used his innovation and problem-
solving skills to build a bicycle which is used on
water gets a national award for his efforts in
engineering.The young man was awarded for his invention which has come to be known as the “Water Bicycle” or “Water Bike” by the Ghana Institute of Engineers at the 2018 Engineering Excellence Awards held on February 22 at the Academy of Health and Sciences.
The Awards Ceremony was under the theme,
“Engineering Research and Innovation:
Important Contributors to Sustainable
Development”.According to the Institute, Frank was considered for the award due to his innovation in the field of engineering even though he was not a trained engineer.
His award came from the public awards category for his substantial contribution to the promotion of engineering practice and innovation. picking up the prestigious award, Frank Darko implored Ghanaians to be problem solvers and stop complaining. He said that as a nation, its people are the only ones who can solve the problems we face.
He therefore called on stakeholders and
benevolent bodies to invest in his breakthrough
invention so as to make the lives of many Ghanaians living in deprived areas, easy.
Speaking on how he came by his innovation,Frank revealed that he was watching a documentary sometime ago about how some
school children in deprived areas had to swim to
school. He said he decided to find a working
solution to the problem and eventually came up
with his creation.Frank’s story was published in the media first by NAIJ.com and other media houses including British Broadcasting Corporation.
Aside the national award, Frank has been offered a full scholarship by the Takoradi Technical University to come back and finish his course in Graphic Designing and take up another course inEngineering.
The special guest of honor at the Awards
Ceremony was Dr. Patrick Awuah, president of
Ashesi University. The president of the Ghana
Institute of Engineers, Ing. Mrs Carlien Bou-
Chedid graced the event alongside some past
presidents of the Institute.
A few months ago, NAIJ.com had an encounter
with the young Ghanaian inventor who had
created a bicycle that could move on water.
He revealed that his invention started in August
last year and with a lot of effort and hard work,
he managed to finish his creation and tested it ina shallow dam in his area.Now, the young inventor believing in his finished
work, decided to test it out on the sea to prove to the world that his invention had come to stay.
Initial stages of the water bike In the pictures, some people were seen taking turns to experience the unique invention Frank Darko resides in Takoradi in the Western
Region. He revealed that the special bicycle was
his first invention but he had drawn up plans for
many more inventions,Finished work being tested at sea He went on to state that his creativity came about as a result of his matchless love for science, technology and the urge to solve day-to- day problems faced by people living in the community.