President of the Ghana Institute of Engineering (GhIE), Ing Carlien Bou-Chedid has called on government to engage qualified engineers to develop the country’s infrastructure.
She stressed the need to engage engineers with the requisite licences who belong to accredited professional bodies as required by law to undertake projects to create jobs and ensure value for money.
She said government’s flagship projects like the ‘One District, One Factory, ‘One District, One Warehouse, as well as modernization of the rail system and national sanitation campaign, among others, need certified engineers to oversee every phase of construction projects.
Ing. Bou-Chedid made the call at the 18th induction ceremony in Accra at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge to add 253 new engineers.
The new inductees were made up of 80 Civil Technical Engineers, 49 Mechanical & Agric Engineers, 28 Chemical & Mining Engineers and 96 Electrical & Electronic Engineers.
She reminded the newly-inducted engineers to stay abreast with fast growing trends of technology.
“You are expected to undertake continuous development programmes annually before having your licenses renewed. This is a basic requirement to ensure you are always abreast with the latest advancements in your area of specialty. Development is taking place very fast and there are new and more efficient methods of performing many engineering activities coming up each day.”
Ing Kwasi Kwakwa, FGhIE, admonished the new engineers to learn to serve and venture into other areas of specialty.
“Outside the institution, you can rise into national office by going into active politics. There are so few engineers up there and that accounts for the perception that engineers appear anonymous in national life and named a few as Ing Yaw Osafo Maafo, Senior Minister; Ing. Owusu Adiomi, Deputy Minister of Roads & Highways.
He reiterated that Ghana would go nowhere without engineering practitioners and stated that the nation’s development should be hinged on indigenous engineers.
“Engineering has been and continues to be the backbone for the development and progress of a nation.”
President of GhIE, Ing Carlien Chedid (seated middle), past Presidents and Council members pose with the newly inducted engineers after the ceremony
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