Graphic MD challenges engineers to lead dialogue on infrastructure
The Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), Ato Afful, has challenged engineering professionals to take centre stage in addressing the country’s infrastructure challenges and influence policies that directly affect national development.
He said it was important for professionals to lead and help get things done more efficiently, stressing that when experts were sidelined, citizens ultimately paid the price through the loss of property and lives.
Speaking during a meeting between the GCGL and the Ghana Institute of Engineering (GhIE) last Tuesday, Mr Afful expressed concern about the poor state of roads and drainage systems in the country, as many projects deteriorate within a few years of completion due to weak supervision and poor engineering standards.
“Our roads have become a pure nuisance. We build a road today, and in less than two years, it wears off. Yet we have thousands of engineers trained in our universities. Let’s use their expertise to ensure quality and value in what we build,” he stressed.
Meeting
The meeting was held to discuss grounds for collaboration and partnership to enhance the institute’s effectiveness.
Led by the Executive Director of the GhIE, Dr Enyonam Fafa Aku Kpekpena, the rest of the members were Director of Membership Services, Juliet Mawunyo Gbormittah; Senior Manager at Water Utilities Performance Monitoring, Ing Daniel Asseh Allan; Director of Professional Practice, Ing Leonora Otu-Boateng; and a member of the institute, Edward Melomey.
The GCGL team also had the Director, Marketing, Franklin Sowa, and Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey.
Poor urban planning
Mr Afful said the country could not continue to spend huge sums rebuilding the same roads repeatedly.
He also decried the frequent flooding in Accra, which he said reflected poor urban planning and disregard for professional advice.
He pledged GCGL’s commitment to support the institute in communicating its insights and solutions to the public.
“Graphic is no longer just a print house.
We are a multimedia institution with digital studios and global reach.
We are happy to offer our platforms to amplify expert voices to help shape the national agenda,” he said.
Plan
Dr Kpekpena commended the GCGL for the collaboration and said the meeting was timely as the institution was working to reposition itself as a more visible and impactful professional body.
She said the GhIE was developing a strategic communication plan to better inform the public about engineering and its role in national development.
“We have not done well in communicating what we do as engineers.
We are developing a communication strategy and are happy to partner Graphic to reach a wider audience,” she said.
Public education
Mr Allan also underscored the importance of public education in ensuring that citizens understood and respected engineering standards.
He said many of the problems facing the country’s cities, such as flooding and unsafe construction, were caused by ignorance and disregard for professional guidelines.
He argued that Accra’s frequent flooding was partly due to the paving and covering of all permeable surfaces, but many people disagreed because they lacked a basic understanding of environmental engineering.
“We are paving every available surface in Accra, leaving no room for water to soak in.
Even educated people oppose such ideas because everyone in the country believes they know better than the experts,” he said.
