The Association of Ghana Water Limited Engineers (AGWLE) has been launched in Accra, with members charged to help ensure sustainable water management in the country.
Affiliated to the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), and made up of 300 members, the association would seek the welfare and capacity building of its members towards improved service delivery.
The group was outdoored at the maiden Engineers Conference, where the 24-member executive body was sworn in and the standard operating procedure for distribution operations was launched.
The two-day conference which is meant to deliberate on issues relating to the work of engineers was on the theme “Advancing the role of engineers in GWL for a sustainable future”.
At the opening on Monday, the Executive Director, Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), David K. Nyante, who launched the group and swore its leaders into office said access to clean and safe drinking water was central to human life and public health, thus the need for engineers to play their roles well in ensuring sustainability.
He said the technical expertise, innovation, and dedication of GWCL engineers were essential in achieving the goals of GWCL and the well-being of all Ghanaians.
In building a sustainable future, he said there was the need to nurture the next generation of engineers by inspiring and encouraging young people to pursue careers in engineering and environmental sciences.
He said the association and the GWCL should invest in the continuous learning and professional development of engineers to enable them keep up with evolving technologies and best practices.
Mr Nyante also called for collaboration between the public and private sectors; advocacy for policies and regulations, and participation in addressing challenges related to water pollution and climate change.
“The challenges of water scarcity, pollution, and climate change are pressing issues that demand immediate action,” he said.
Mr Nyante said the challenge of ageing infrastructure of water supply and distribution systems required substantial maintenance and upgrading to meet the demands of a growing population and changing climate conditions.
He said limited financial resources, shortage of skilled engineers and water management professionals, weak or outdated regulatory frameworks were challenges that needed to be addressed to promote sustainability.
“Your collective dedication, knowledge, and innovation will be the driving force behind our success in tackling these obstacles and building a more sustainable future for all Ghanaians,” he said.
The GWCL Managing Director, Dr Clifford Braimah, said the association would help promote the ethics of the profession which would inure to the overall quality service delivery of the company.
Noting the crucial role engineers play in the world of the company, he said they were instrumental in addressing challenges such as the abandoned high level tanks in the country.
He pledged the support of management to the association and asked its members to remain committed to their respective responsibilities in the company.
For his part, the AGWLE President, Richard Otoo, said members would work to achieve the mandate of the association and the company for sustainable water management.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
