The President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET), Eric Atta-Sonno, has cautioned engineers to guard against colluding with political office holders to do shoddy works and contracts.
According to him, such practice, which short-changed the country retards national development and result in poor quality of work.
Speaking at the 2019 induction ceremony for new members in Accra yesterday, he stated the need for continuous professional development regularly to conscientise engineers against such practice and sanction erring members found to have worked in disregard to the ethics of the profession.
About 108 members were inducted into various divisions of IET including Biomedical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical.
“If there’s collusion, the quality of work is negatively affected. Others also get involved meaning the country pays more for less. Eventually, development is retarded and the citizens themselves would be exposed to danger or disasters resulting from collapse of infrastructures,” Mr Atta-Sonno stated.
He said members found to have acted in disregard to the ethics of the profession were in some instances downgraded from engineers to Technologists or Craftsmen while others have been dismissed as members out-rightly.
Although he did not state the number of members to have faced sanctions for inappropriate behaviour within the last 10 years, he said, erring members have been taken through the disciplinary processes within the period.
He indicated that the Engineering Council of Ghana was working to have the Engineering Regulations passed by Parliament as a Legislative Instrument (LI) by the end of this year to ensure that the Engineering Council Act 819 of 2011 was fully empowered to regulate the profession.
“This will ensure that the practice of engineering and technology continue to be done with the highest possible standards and usher the profession into a totally new landscape,” Mr Atta-Sonno added.
The Council, he said was currently focused on enhancing the professional capacity of all members and work in partnership with institutions towards the promotion of quality engineering practice.
Additionally, it was also working to strengthen institutional structures and influence engineering and technology policy decisions at all levels of governance, he stated.
Mr Atta-Sonno advised the inductees to work to the highest level of professional practice in line with the professional oath and remain active in their various divisions and sectors.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
