Kofi Aidoo

A Ghanaian engineer whose affordable water filtration system has provided clean drinking water to over 2 million people

Kofi Aidoo is a Ghanaian innovator whose low-cost water filtration system has revolutionized access to clean drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa. Born in 1987 in Kumasi, he witnessed the devastating health impacts of contaminated water during his childhood. His engineering breakthrough came in 2011 with the invention of the AquaSafe Filter, a portable device that removes 99.9% of waterborne pathogens using locally available materials.

The AquaSafe system costs just $25 and requires no electricity, making it accessible to even the poorest communities. Its core filtration unit uses sand, charcoal, and crushed gravel arranged in precise layers, combined with a ceramic final filter impregnated with silver nanoparticles. Independent testing by WHO confirmed it meets international drinking water standards.

Aidoo's social enterprise WaterShield Ghana has distributed over 50,000 units across 12 African countries since 2015. The initiative includes a Community Training Program that teaches locals to assemble and maintain the filters, creating sustainable employment opportunities. In partnership with UNICEF, Aidoo has also developed a solar-powered communal filtration station for larger villages, producing 2,000 liters of clean water daily.

His most recent innovation (2022) is the SmartWell system, which integrates water quality sensors with mobile alert systems. This allows real-time monitoring of contamination levels and has reduced cholera outbreaks by 70% in pilot regions. Aidoo's work has been recognized with the 2020 Africa Innovation Prize, and his methods are now being adapted for use in flood-prone areas of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

By focusing on locally scalable solutions that empower communities, Aidoo has redefined how water access challenges can be addressed in developing nations.