Dr Henry Godfrey Rupiny Kerali addressing participants at the conference
Country Director of the World Bank, Dr Henry G. R. Kerali, has called on civil engineers to institute sanctions regime for engineers and contractors whose actions lead to poor infrastructure delivery.
Dr Kerali made the call when he delivered a speech as the Special Guest of honour at the Civil Engineering Conference & Exhibition held on Thursday at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge, Accra.
Speaking under the theme: “Regulating Civil Engineering Practice for Effective Delivery,” Mr Kerali quizzed: “What happens when a building collapses? Who bears the ultimate responsibility?”
According to him, it was still not clear to him the sanctions regime for engineers and contractors whose actions lead to poor infrastructure delivery.
“It is also not clear to me whether the delivery by professional practice is evaluated. Is professional misconduct an issue, and if it is, how are practitioners held liable?
“I am not advocating witch-hunting, or a drive to deprive professionals of their livelihood. To the contrary, I believe that Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) needs to establish auditing systems that help to prevent mistakes before they happen,” Dr Kerali said.
Ing Carlien Bou-Chedid, President of GhIE, who chaired the occasion, reminded the engineers of the new law, the Engineering Council Act 819, which required that all engineering practitioners register either as a professional engineer, engineering technologies practitioner, engineering technician or engineering craftsman.
“Each one of these practitioners is essential in the engineering practice with different strength and capabilities that work together as a team in the engineering field,” the GhIE President added.
Chairman of the Civil Technical Division of the Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhiE), Ing. Joseph Oddei, on his part, thanked the exhibitors and partners for exhibiting their state-of-the-art equipment and products to the admiration of the participants.
“We are privileged to have Cad Consult Ghana, Zwalum-Den Braven Sealants, METRISYS, Ghana Re, Africa Navigation Technologies, Geo-Tech Systems and GHACEM, displaying their quality products to the participants,” Ing. Oddei said.
A cutting-edge presentation on the functions of the Engineering Council was made to participants by the Registrar of the Council, Wise Ametefe.
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