The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has urged newly inaugurated technical committees of the Engineering Council to discharge their duties with independence, rigor, and integrity, free from political coercion or bias.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Friday, 22 August 2025, the Minister said the establishment of the committees under the Engineering Council Act, 2011 (Act 819) was a matter of “strategic national interest,” adding that Ghana’s safety and the returns on its massive infrastructure investments depend on uncompromising professional standards.

He cautioned against the use of substandard materials, the engagement of unqualified or unlicensed practitioners, and poor supervision of engineering works, describing these as major threats to public safety and national development. “Your expertise is not a privilege for the profession but a service to the nation. You are the vital layer of technical oversight standing between substandard practice and a safe, prosperous Ghana,” he said.

“Your expertise is not a privilege for the profession but a service to the nation. You are the vital layer of technical oversight standing between substandard practice and a safe, prosperous Ghana.”

Outlining the roles of the six committees, the Minister emphasized their responsibility to enforce ethical practice, set standards for education and training, oversee licensing and registration, ensure sound financial and administrative structures, strengthen public sensitization, and uphold both local and international standards of practice.

He stressed that recent engineering failures, including building collapses and water system breakdowns, highlight the urgency of the committees’ work. “The public’s demand for safety and quality does not allow for a slow start. I therefore expect these committees to become functional immediately,” he charged.

The Minister called on members to ensure their recommendations are evidence-based, their judgments fearless and independent, and their actions free from corruption or external influence. He said the Board will rely on their technical advice, while government will hold the Council accountable for outcomes.

The Minister congratulated the appointees, urging them to begin their work with the seriousness it demands. “Let your legacy be a measurable improvement in the quality and safety of every engineering project in this country,” he concluded.