The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) has expressed displeasure about poor building practices in the country.
They have expressed fret over total neglect of the Engineering Council Act (Act 819) by developers.
The Engineering Council Act (Act 819) requires that all construction projects must be overseen by qualified, experienced and licensed professionals who have knowledge and the expertise to ensure buildings are safe and structurally sound.
The Institution’s observation comes after a building collapsed at Adentan in the LaNkwantanan Municipal Assembly, claiming one life and injuring other people on Monday, May 1.
The destroyed three-storey building is alleged to have been erected within a month while the developer is said to have apparently ignored the highest standards of engineering practices.
Chairman of the Civil Technical Division at the Ghana Institution of Engineering Ing. Michael Obeng Konadu, speaking in an interview with Onua FM during a visit to the scene, urged developers to prioritize safety and involve professional engineers at every stage of building.
He challenged government agencies involved in approving designs and monitoring construction projects to employ professional engineers.
Failure to do so, according to him, could lead to a catastrophe as witnessed at Adentan and other places.
Ing. Obeng Konadu expounded that the Institution is committed to working with regulatory bodies and industry partners to improve standards in the construction industry and to ensure that the public is protected from unsafe buildings.
He further advocated for the Engineering Council Act to be fully enforced.
He, however, stressed that the Ghana Institution of Engineering will continue to push for the involvement of professional engineers in all construction projects to help promote the importance of adherence to building codes and regulations.
By Maxwell Otoo|Onua FM|3news.com|Ghana