Minister of State in charge of Public Private Partnership (PPP) at the Presidency, Abdul Rashid Pelpuo, has called on Engineers and Consulting Engineers to ensure that their profession adds to the social and economic development of the people of Ghana and Africa.

He said it is the aim of the ruling NDC government to improve on the infrastructural system in the country, noting that the work of Engineers would play a vital role in achieving that aim. 

The Minister said this when he delivered his keynote address as a Special Guest of Honor at the ongoing International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC-GAMA) Conference which opened on Monday, 13th April, at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, in Accra.

Mr Pelpuo  further stated that Ghana’s rate of development of infrastructure has a direct correlation with the growth of its GDP and, therefore, the improvement in the standard of living of its people.

It is in this view,  according to the minister, that the government has developed two policy responses to address the challenges of closing the infrastructure deficit gap.

Rashid Pelpuo revealed that the policies are “creating a conducive environment for the private sector to participate in the provision of public good through the PPP’s policy in the development of infrastructure and the other is the establishment of the Ghana infrastructure investment fund”.

He was confident the policy would facilitate efforts to bridge the infrastructural gaps in Ghana.

The Mayor of Accra, Okoe Vanderpuije also challenged the participating Engineers to ensure that they bring solutions to the numerous problems confronting the nation and every city that the conference will take place in future.

“I wish the city of Accra becomes like that of Barcelona and on behalf of my colleague mayors, I pledged our full support to work together with the Engineers for better cities in Africa”, Mr. Okoe Vanderpuije said.

Chairman of the Ghana Consulting Engineers, Ing. Frederick Asare-Yeboah, in his welcome address stated that the conference will provide the platform to discuss factors inhibiting the growth of the consulting engineering industry in Africa and make proposals for promoting and strengthening inter-regional partnerships amongst consulting engineering firms in Africa region.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Developing and Sustaining Africa’s Infrastructure; Promoting African Consulting Engineering Partnership.

Dignitaries such as Pablo Bueno – FIDIC President; Eng. George Sitali-Chairman GAMA; Ing. A.A Ogyiri – LOC chairman; Rev. Dr. Mensah-Otabil – Chancellor, Central University College & General Overseer ICGC; Ing. J. Kpekpena – Director of Engineering, ECG; Ing. M.L. Quarshie – CEO, Delin consult; Ing. Cephas T. Oguah, Chief Manager, Corporate Planning, GWCL and other speakers made a presentation on various topics.