President of Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), Ing. Kwaku Boampong has told Engineers in the country to ensure that they incorporate principles of sustainable development in their work.

He admonished them to adopt the ‘triple bottom line’ approach to their projects – that is projects must secure environmental protection, meet economic needs and serve society.

Ing. Boampong said this during his opening remarks at the second in the series of the Ghana Institution of Engineers’ Annual Lecture on Leadership and Ethics on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge, Accra.

“Continuous Professional Development of our members is a top priority of the GhIE. The Council of the Institution therefore instituted this Annual Leadership and Ethics Lecture to promote engineering excellence and raise the bar of the practice of the Engineering Profession so that Engineers will be leaders of the development of Science, Engineering and Technology at all levels of society”, Ing. Boampong explained.

Under the theme “Quality of Life and Infrastructure: Do we owe the Poor?” Ing. Boampong, who was the Chairman of the program, noted the world has seen an unprecedented acceleration in technological development that has had far reaching effects on our profession.

“Today, Engineers are responsible for incorporating the principles of sustainable development into every phase of the projects, that is, whilst ensuring that the project meets the economic needs of society, they should be stewards of the environment, protect the poor and the vulnerable in society,” he said.

Guest Speaker, Dr. Nishan de Mel, who is the Executive Director and Head of Verité Research, a think tank that provides analytical research and advisory services on economic, political and legal issues in Sri Lanka and Asia, said corruption has been perceived to be endemic in the construction sector.

He said Engineers are involved in the Engineering Procurement and Construction of mega projects around the world, and in performing their duties they should remember the following:

1. The poor and the vulnerable require protection. Morally the powerful and people in authority should protect the poor.

2. Recognition that we have received more because we are blessed. It was not by choice.

3. There is the need to give back to society. Duty of reciprocity

4. The poor are what they are because the powerful and those in authority have stolen from them.

Dr. Nishan added that to be leaders we should be part of the process that would build our nation, Ghana, to be a model for Africa and the world. He hinted that Ghana and Sri Lanka have so many things in common, ranging from Independence, which Sri Lanka attained in 1948 whilst Ghana got Independence in 1957; Sri Lanka’s population is 21 million with Ghana’s population of 25 million. Both Ghana and Sri Lanka have similar Political structure with Corruption issues similar in both countries.

The Evening lecture was well-attended by some Past Presidents of the GhIE, Council Members, Ing. Owura K Sarfo – CEO of MiDA, Ing. Dr. Benjamin Ofosu Adoo, Chairman of Keegan Resources, Engineers, other sister Professional bodies and the media.