Works and Housing Minister, Samuel Atta Akyea, has assured Ghanaian Engineers that his Ministry will continue to engage them, debunking a misconception that his outfit does not want to hire local Engineers for key projects.

“I never said I would not hire Ghanaian Engineers. What I said was that H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s Presidency would not reward mediocrity”, the Minister said, in reaction to news reports he had stated that he will not engage Ghanaian Engineers.

Mr Atta Akyea explained this when he delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the on-going 50th Anniversary and the 2018 Engineering Week Celebration.

Photo: Atta Akyea being escorted by members of the Executive Committee of GhIE at the opening ceremony

The event was held at the International Students Guest Centre (ISGC), Teiman, near Abokobi, Accra on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

The Works and Housing Minister, however, cautioned the Engineers that if any Engineer is found inflating figures or doing a shoddy work, he or she would be sanctioned according to the law.

-- Atta Akyea (seated middle) with Ing. Mrs. Carlien Bou-Chedid and Justice Anin Yeboah and other dignitaries posed with the participants after the opening ceremony.

The Chairperson of the ceremony, Ing. Mrs Carlien Bou-Chedid, President of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), in her address, was in full support of the Minister’s call for sanction and admonished Engineers to adhere to industry’s code of ethics.

“This year, we have had the unfortunate duty of sanctioning three of our members by suspending them and withdrew their licenses for one year,” he revealed.

Justice Anin Yeboah, a Supreme Court Judge, who represented the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo, also called on Engineers in the country to support in developing the nation because the nation cannot develop without Engineers.

He also called on the leadership of the GhIE to enforce their rules and regulations and crack the whip on wrongdoers.

A fraternal message was delivered by Engr. Otis Anyaeji, President of West African Federation of Engineering Organization (WAFEO) and Past President of Nigerian Society of Engineers and; the ceremony was attended by a high powered delegation from Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. In attendance were Past Presidents of GhIE, Council members, Engineers from all over the country and the general public.

The 49th Presidential Inauguration and Banquet will be held on Friday, 23rd March at the same venue; and it is expected to be graced by the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ministers of State and all Engineers in the country and international Engineering partners.

The week-long celebration and the year-long Golden Jubilee anniversary celebration are proudly supported by Tullow Oil, VRA, G&J Technical Services Ltd, Bui Power Authority, Ghana Gas, Ghacem and other sponsors which mounted state-of-the-art exhibition stands for the participants.