African Technology ForumSM
The Information
Source for Science and Technology in
History of African Technology ForumSM
1988
African students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology organize as African Technology ForumSM (ATF). ATF starts a newsletter focused on developments in, and the impact of technology on, the African continent. This developed into the magazine African Technology ForumSM, taking the same name as the organization.
Founders: Mawuli Tse and Karanja Gakio. Key staff included: Michael Kobina Owu, K'Andrea Bickerstaff, Muhonjia Khaminwa, John Ofori-Tenkorang, Vincent Adzovie, and Julia Goldrosen.
1991
Members of ATF, along with others, found the Okyeame e-mail distribution list for the Ghanaian online community.
1992
ATF grows to include a volunteer staff of about 23, contributors in 15 countries, and a readership of over 11,000.
1993
ATF was invited as part of a consulting team in Cape Verde to assess the feasibility of solar and other renewable energy alternatives.
1994
Conference held at MIT for African electric utilities and authorities (UPDEA - Union of Producers, Transporters, and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa) with ATF participating and helping to organize.
1995
ATF engages consultant to conduct training in Total Quality Management in Ghana.
The original ATF website at MIT is launched.
1996
ATF Consulting started to help with technical and information-gathering requests.
1998
Editor-in-Chief Mawuli Tse starts ATF operating in Ghana.
2000
The africantechnologyforum.org website is launched.
2002
ATF undertakes project to distribute used books from Concord Library in Massachusetts to the University of Ghana and other tertiary institutions in Ghana.
2003
ATF and colleagues begin an effort to distribute MIT OpenCourseWork materials to African universities with low Internet bandwidth capabilities via CDs.
2007
ATF begins a program of donations of technical trade journals to African universities.
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