The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), has opened its 2025 Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM), in Accra today, Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

The Opening ceremony attracted Engineering Practitioners in the country, some African countries and the World Federation of Engineering Organization. The conference is on the theme: ‘Urbanization and Smart Cities: Engineering, the Future of Ghana Cities”.

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Agbodza, who represented the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, recognised the pivotal role engineers play in shaping our nation’s future.

He said, engineers are not just builders, they are visionaries and problem-solvers who drive development, transform society and uplift generations.

He reiterated the President’s vision to build a robust, inclusive and resilient economy driven by strategic infrastructure investments through the Big Push agenda, adding, it is a bold, forward-looking agenda to empower Ghanaians and position our nation as a leader in Africa’s development.

The Minister mentioned some of the key pillars that support the Big Push vision to include: Transforming Transportation Networks for Economic Connectivity; Sustainable Energy Development for a Resilient Future; Water and Sanitation as Fundamental; Digital Transformation and Investing in Social Infrastructure for Human Capital.

“Ghana’s future depends on what we do today. As engineers, policymakers and leaders, let us commit to bold, transformative action. Let us innovate, collaborate and implement solutions that will define Ghana’s next chapter of growth. This conference provides a platform to explore innovative solutions to our most pressing challenges. The subthemes reflect the strategic areas where engineering excellence is most needed. Together, we can harness the power of engineering to build a prosperous. Sustainable and inclusive Ghana’, the President’s message concluded.

The President of GhIE, Ing. Kwabena Bempong, in his opening address said, this year’s theme is appropriate in view of the increasing global urbanization of countries with their attendant challenges and opportunities.

"This presents us as Engineering Practitioners with the need to step up our game by taking advantage of the technological advancements to engineer our cities. It requires a concerted effort to bring the concepts of urbanization and Smart cities to the fore with the view to helping shape the future of human settlements and by extension, our cities", he said.

Fraternal messages were delivered by engineering organizations from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, FAEO President, WAFEO President, ESOL President, NSE President, NSE Deputy President, Immediate Past President of NSE, SLIE President, NSE Youth in Engineering.

Also present at the opening ceremony included Sam George, who is an Engineer; ACP Priscilla Bempong-wife of Ing. Kwabena Bempong; President-elect of GhIE, Ing. Ludwig Annan Hesse; Vice-President of GhIE, Ing. Sophia Abena Tijani; Past Presidents of GhI;, Council members of GhIE; Executive Director of GhIE; Women in Engineering (WiNE); Youth in Engineering and other dignitaries.

The week-long conference will hold AGM and Investiture on Thursday, 27^th March, 2025 and a closing Banquet and Engineering Excellence Awards on Friday, 28^th March, 2025. There will be field trips by delegates and golf tournament on Saturday, 29^th March, 2025.