Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollenu

The highlight of the premier graduation ceremony of Regent University College of Science and Technology, Ghana’s premier private science and technology university college, on 26th April, 2008, was the award of Honorary Fellow (Hon. FRU.) to a leading  space engineer and scientist, Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollenu, Senior Robotics Engineer and Technical Group Leader, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.  

The expertise of Dr. Trebi-Ollenu include Space Robotics Systems, Flight Systems Integration and Test, Planetary Rover Operations, Distributed Mobile Robotics, Control Systems design for Aerospace, Robotic control system design and implementation. He is associated with the twin robotic explorers named Spirit and Opportunity which landed on Mars in January 2004.

The citation was read by the Chancellor of the University College, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Darko, DSc. The Honorary Fellowship Certificate was presented to him by His Excellency, President J. A. Kufuor; he was assisted by the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana. As a member of the elite Robotic Arm Instrument Sequencing Engineering Team and Instrument Down Link Engineering Team for Mars Phoenix Lander slated to land in Northern Polar Region of Mars on 25th May 2008; and responsible for planning and sequencing the robotic arm to dig trenches, collect samples and deliver them to the Phoenix Lander instrument suite, he could not be physically present to receive the award.

He however, participated in the ceremony virtually. In his acceptance speech, which was virtually transmitted through video conferencing in the MBA lecture hall at the corporate headquarters of the University, Dr. Trebi-Ollenu paid a glowing tribute to Professor E. K. Larbi and the leadership of the University for the honour done him and prayed that the good Lord will give him the grace and humility to be able to contribute his quota to the realisation of the aims and objectives of the Regent University. He also thanked the President, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, and the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, for their distinguished role in the presentation of the award. His Excellency, J.A. Kufuor on his part, praised Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollenu for his great achievement and the honour he has brought to Ghana.   

Click to view citation.