Institution of Engineering lauds President’s fight on galamsey

The Institution of Engineering Technology Ghana (IET-GH) has commended President John Dramani Mahama for the efforts he has initiated to combat the illegal mining menace in the country.

It said illegal mining, also known as galamsey, was a menace which, if not curbed, could pose an existential threat to the country’s development and progress and, therefore, encouraged all stakeholders to support the government to win the fight.

“Illegal mining poses a severe threat to Ghana’s forests, water bodies and sustainable development efforts.

“If left unchecked, it will undermine our progress towards achieving key sustainable development goals, particularly in environmental conservation, clean water, and sustainable land use,” the President of the IET-GH, Henry Kwadwo Boateng, told the Daily Graphic in an interview.

The interview touched on several issues, including the commemoration of World Engineering Day, which is marked on March 4, each year.

Mr Boateng encouraged the adoption of engineering and technological solutions in reclaiming degraded lands, managing water resources and promoting responsible mining practices and urged all stakeholders—government, private sector, academia, and engineering professionals—to work together to unleash the full potential of engineering in Ghana.

The future of the nation, he said, depended on how well we harness engineering and technology to address the country’s challenges and that it should commit to removing barriers to innovation, investing in local engineers and advancing a sustainable and prosperous Ghana.

World Engineering Day

Mr Boateng said the theme for this year’s engineering day, "Unleashing the Power of Engineering to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals in Ghana”  was a clarion call for industry practitioners and stakeholders to harness engineering and technology to drive national progress and create a better future for all.

“For Ghana to fully benefit from engineering and technology, we must embrace a long-term, science-driven development mindset. Engineering is the foundation of industrialisation, and as a nation, we must prioritise technical expertise, innovation and evidence-based decision-making over short-term political interests,” he emphasised.

Development

Engineers, he said, were at the heart of national development and that they required the right resources, policies and infrastructure to thrive. He, therefore, called on the government, the private sector and the academia to collaborate in creating more opportunities for engineers, particularly in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and technology development.

The IET-GH President said unnecessary political interference in engineering-related projects “weakens our ability to implement sustainable solutions. We must strengthen institutions to ensure that engineering decisions are guided by technical expertise, research, and national interest, rather than political cycles. Strong institutions promote long-term planning and ensure the successful execution of engineering projects.”

Corruption, Mr Boateng said, continued to hinder Ghana’s development, delaying and compromising critical engineering projects.

“We must confront corruption by enforcing transparency, ensuring accountability and upholding best practices in procurement, project execution and infrastructure development.

Without addressing corruption, achieving the SDGs will remain out of reach,” he said.

Capacity

He said the country’s engineering sector had the capacity to develop high-quality, locally made products that meet global standards.

However, this requires strict enforcement of standardisation policies and a strong commitment to patronising locally manufactured goods.

Supporting local engineers and businesses will not only create jobs but also strengthen our economy and technological capabilities.

To remain competitive in the global engineering space, Mr Boateng said the country must shift from theory-based learning to a competency-based education system. 

Practical

Engineering and technology training, he said, must be practical, hands-on and industry-focused, equipping graduates with the skills needed to solve real-world problems.

“Stronger collaboration between academia and industry is essential to achieve this transformation. Many locally developed engineering solutions are overlooked in favour of foreign alternatives.

This must change. Ghanaian engineers possess the expertise to design and implement solutions tailored to our country’s needs.

We urge the government, businesses and society to trust and invest in local engineering solutions,” he said.

Mr Boateng said to drive industrial growth and create employment, engineers must be empowered to establish their firms, research centres and technology hubs.