Ghanaian-American chemical engineer Dr Thomas Mensah passes on

Thomas Owusu Mensah, a Ghanaian-American chemical engineer who made significant contributions to the development of fiber optic technology, has died at the age of 74.

Mensah’s work is credited with making fiber optics a more practical and cost-effective solution for data transmission.

During his time at Corning Glass Works, he revolutionised the manufacturing process for fiber optic cables.

This breakthrough significantly reduced the cost of fiber optics, making them competitive with traditional copper cables.

Mensah’s advancements in manufacturing processes also made fiber optic cables more affordable to produce, paving the way for their widespread adoption in modern communication systems.

He had expertise in various cutting-edge fields like fiber optics and superconductor technology, authoring and editing books on these topics.

His work on fiber optic reels played a role in the development of advanced missile technology used during the Gulf War.