The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has challenged newly inaugurated technical committees under the Engineering Council to restore integrity to the engineering profession by working with “absolute rigour, fearless independence, and utmost integrity.”
He stressed that government would not tolerate the use of substandard materials, unlicensed practitioners, or poor supervision of projects, warning that engineering failures erode public trust, waste scarce resources, and constitute “a stain on Ghana’s development effort.”
The six committees covering disciplinary and ethics, education and training, finance and administration, licensing and registration, public and international affairs, and standards and professional practice, will serve as the technical arm of the Council’s governing board. Their mandate includes certifying engineers and firms, setting accreditation criteria, enforcing ethical conduct, and ensuring compliance with both local and international standards.
Mr. Adjei reminded members that their expertise was “not a privilege for the profession but a service to the nation,” urging them to insulate their work from political and commercial pressures and remember that “the Ghanaian public remains your only constituency.” He added that the Council’s board would be held accountable for outcomes, while the Ministry would closely monitor progress, with expectations of tangible results such as updated standards, stronger accreditation frameworks, and disciplinary decisions within a reasonable timeframe.
The Minister further urged the committees to leave behind a legacy of measurable improvements in the quality and safety of engineering works nationwide.
The inauguration follows the reconstitution of the Engineering Council’s governing board earlier this year, amid rising concerns over building collapses, water system breakdowns, and weak enforcement of engineering standards. The move is intended to operationalize the Engineering Council Act, which mandates tighter regulation of professional practice across the sector.
