Prioritise maintenance, completion of existing projects -Engineering Council to politicians

Politicians have been entreated to prioritise the maintenance and completion of existing infrastructural projects in the country rather than promising new ones. 

Such measures will not only extend the lifespan of projects, but also safeguard public safety and protection of public funds.

The Board Chairman of Engineering Council, Ghana, Dr Kwame Boakye, who was speaking in an interview, added that “we always seem to like new things. They talk about new roads they have built, they do not talk about the roads they have maintained, so we have to start changing the narrative,” he said.

The chairman was speaking on the sidelines of the council’s CEOs’ Breakfast meeting in Accra last Tuesday on the theme: “Engineering excellence for national development: A collective responsibility.” 

Governance

On governance, Dr Boakye noted that there were not many engineers at the decision-making level in the country, saying, engineers were only made to execute plans rather than shape them, a situation, he said, stifled innovation and comprehensive problem-solving initiatives.

The chairman, therefore, advocated change, encouraging more engineers to get involved at both the local assembly and national levels.

“If nations are going to progress, they bring in engineers because engineering is about solving problems.

“Unfortunately, here, somebody else makes the decision and engineering professionals carry it along. That has to change, and we need to infuse that kind of mindset here,” he added.

Dr Boakye further stressed the need for more collaboration with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and the Ghana Standards Authority to ensure excellence in engineering standards in the country. 

Relevance

The Minister of Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in a speech read on his behalf, said engineering was the backbone of national development, serving as the engine that drove innovation, infrastructure and economic growth.

With over 2,000 graduates from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology alone, he said, there was the need for the council to create the right environment for the young professionals to excel and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“By regulating the profession, setting rigorous standards and promoting continuous professional development, the council safeguards the integrity, competence and public safety in engineering practice.

This, in turn, fosters accountability and excellence across the engineering landscape,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah added, in the speech delivered by his deputy, Dr Prince Hamid Armah.

The minister further called for collaboration among the government, industry and academia to nurture innovation, advance research and apply engineering principles practically.

Objectives

The Registrar of the Engineering Council, Isaac Bedu, explained that the objective of the meeting was to strengthen relations between the council and private sector leaders.

He added that the meeting was also to educate the CEOs on the council’s regulatory framework, standards and expectations to ensure compliance while encouraging private sector investment in engineering education, research and innovation.