GhIE’s State of the Institution address held in Accra

The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), the body responsible for regulating the conduct and practice of Engineering in Ghana, held the “State of the Institution Address”, at the Engineering Centre, Roman Ridge, Accra, last Thursday.

Welcoming the participants to the programme, a past Chairman of the Civil Technical Division of GhIE, Joseph Oddei, said the State of the Institution Address is a constitutional obligation imposed on every President of GhIE to deliver before he or she handed over power to the President-elect, as enshrined in Article 10.3.1(f) of GhIE constitution.

He added that the President of GhIE, in his second term, is expected to tell members of the institution how he met the institution, what had been the add-ons, as well as the challenges of the institution. He explained that this address was the second in a series since the coming into force of the amended constitution of GhIE in 2017.

Address

Delivering his address, the President of GhIE, Kwabena Bempong, said on March 28, 2021, in Kumasi, the members of the institution voted massively for him as President-elect.

He explained that having walked in the shadows of the 51st President of GhIE, Prof. Charles Anum Adams, for two years and learning so much on the job as President-elect, he was inaugurated as the 52nd President of the Institution on March 30, 2023, at the 53rd Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Takoradi.

Updating members on the Strategic goals during his tenure, Mr Bempong said a lot had been achieved in promoting sustainable and resilient engineering practices.

Mr Bempong added that the institution advanced discussions and partnerships to support renewable energy adoption and resilient infrastructure development.

“Membership increased from 10,890 to 11,708, with a focused effort to engage under-represented groups, including technologists and technicians.

Members with good standings increased from 3,224 to 6,313.

We partnered Fabrimetal to train 402 Craftsmen in Kasoa, Takoradi and Tamale,” Mr Bempong explained.

Collaboration and financial performance

On international collaboration, Mr Bempong said, GhIE represented at international conferences, including World Engineering Day in Lisbon, Portugal and other centres. 

“The institution also has an enhanced partnership with global engineering bodies to facilitate knowledge-sharing and capacity-building.

The institution also supported the participation of Women in Engineering (WinE) in all major events, promoting diversity, inclusivity and equity,” the President of GhIE said. 

He acknowledged with admiration that a Ghanaian female engineer, Dr  Enyoman Kpekpena, was currently the Chair of the Committee on Women in Engineering (WIE), a standing committee of the World Federation of Engineering Organisation (WFEO).

Project

On projects, the GhIE President said the Institution signed an MOU with the Chief of Assin Kushea Traditional area, Ehunabobrim Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, who gave a gift of 10-acre land for the development of an Engineering Village.

The President of GhIE hinted that a brochure had been completed to launch a fund-raising initiative for the implementation of this innovative idea, which would be a game-changer for engineering in the country.

Mr Bempong said GhIE’s summary of financials showed growth of actual income from GH¢5,375,216 in 2023 to GH¢7,648,859.54 last year.

He explained that over 85 per cent of the 2024 budgeted income was achieved through membership subscriptions, event sponsorship, earmarked funds and other income streams.

Challenges

On challenges that he faced during the year under review, Mr Bempong said GhIE encountered low engagement in specific membership categories, particularly among technologists and technicians, limiting broader representation and involvement. 

Dignitaries

At the State of the Institution Address dignitaries, including Assitant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Priscilla Bempong, wife of Kwabena Bempong and their children; the Vice-President of GhIE-Ing. Sophia Abena Tijani; the President-Elect of GhIE, Ludwig A. Hesse; Acting Executive Director of GhIE, Samuel Asiedu; former Executive Director of GhIE, David Nyante; Council members of GhIE and Past Presidents of GhIE, as well as hundreds of engineering practitioners joined virtually.