6 c’ttees set up to promote high professional standards in engineering
The Ghana Institution of Engineering, (GhIE) has inaugurated six Technical Committees in a bid to strengthen regulation in the profession.
The committees are expected to drive standards, ensure safety in infrastructure, and enforce discipline across the engineering sector as required under the Engineering Council Act, 2011 (Act 819).
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, said the committees would play a crucial role in protecting lives and safeguarding public investments.
He stressed that the government expected them to enforce strict standards to end the use of substandard materials, eliminate unlicensed practitioners, and address poor supervision of engineering works.
The Minister outlined the specific mandates of the six committees, the Disciplinary, Legal and Ethics Committee would uphold integrity in the profession by ensuring ethical practice and applying disciplinary authority when required.
The Education and Training Committee will build competence through accreditation, collaboration with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and licensure requirements.
The Finance and Administration Committee will ensure sustainability through sound staffing and financial structures.
The Licensing and Registration Committee will oversee transparent certification and maintain professional registers.
The Public and International Affairs Committee would lead sensitisation, advocacy, and partnerships, while the Standards and Professional Practice Committee would regulate practice and enforce compliance with local and international standards.
Mr Adjei noted that engineering failures such as building collapses and water system breakdowns could no longer be tolerated.
He said such incidents wasted scarce resources and weakened public trust and charged the committees to serve as the solution by maintaining rigour, independence, and integrity in their work.
“The Board would rely on your technical advice, and I will hold the Board accountable for outcomes. The public demands safety and quality, and I expect these committees to become functional immediately,” he stated.
The Registrar of the GhIE, Mr Isaac Bedu, also described the inauguration as an important operational milestone.
He said the committees were the key mechanism through which the Council’s regulatory mandate would become effective.
He emphasised that the professionals selected to serve had been chosen for their expertise, leadership, and dedication, and urged them to see their appointments as service to both the profession and the nation.
The event, held at the Engineers’ Centre in Roman Ridge, was attended by members of the Governing Board, engineering leaders, and invited guests.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
