Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, (Ag. Executive Director of GhIE)
The Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhIE) has called on the government to expedite action on the passage of the Legislative Instrument on the Engineering Council Law (Act 819).
It said this will help to ensure that measures are put in place to regulate engineering practice in the country.
Speaking at a day’s symposium on Concrete Technologies and Infrastructural Repair organized by BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany and the University of Ghana in Accra, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, acting Executive Director of GhIE, stated that the GhIE will actively collaborate with government to address institutional weaknesses inherent in the construction industry.
Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong added that the GhIE accepts its special responsibility to Ghana.
“It recognizes the most development problems are essentially engineering problems; that engineering has been and continues to be the backbone for development and progress of any country; that no nation can develop without a strong indigenous engineering sector.”
He added that GhIE will ensure that the standards regulation and guidelines for engineering practice are strictly enforced and that the institution will not hesitate to investigate cases of unethical behavior and penalize members found to have gone contrary to the GhIE Code of Ethics.
Speaking on the topic, Concrete Infrastructures- general overview, challenges and solutions, Dr Wolfram Schmidt of BAM, Germany, indicated that concrete is the most important construction material in the world.
Therefore, it plays a major role in the future construction, as well as in the repair and maintenance of existing structures. Infrastructure is a major economy driver. A robust and functioning infrastructural network is of utmost importance to sustain and foster positive economic developments.
Other speakers included Dr David Dodoo-Arhin, University of Ghana, Dr Moses Kiliswa, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, Dr Efe Ikponmwosa, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Participants were drawn from the construction industry.