The newly elected Global Chair of the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC), Kwadwo Osei Asante says these are exciting times for the profession in Ghana after the election of Ghanaians unto key executive positions and the selection of Accra as the host for the next ICEC Conference in October 2020. 

Asante, a chartered quantity surveyor and procurement specialist was elected to serve as the Global Chair of the 180,000 strong member body spread over 120 countries in November. In addition to Asante, Ghanaians Kofi Obeng Ayirebi will serve as ICEC Region 3 Director while Osei Agyemang Badu will be the Assistant Secretary-General for the same region in Africa. 

Accra will also host the next congress of the ICEC in October 2020. Asante reckons all these represent significant progress for cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management in Ghana. 

“The benefits can be assessed in three key ways,” he says.

“There is technology development which will come in the form of exchange of information and ability to draw on experiences from other countries, tap into research and major international gatherings. The conduct of regional meetings, national and international networking and collaborations with academia also mean that we will significantly develop our manpower base. Then there is the chance to share products, knowledge and best practices, continuous development for professionals which is vital for everyone.” 

Asante insists that it is not just professionals in the field who would benefit given the significant impact of cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management on overall national development. 

He said: “The importance of CE/QS/PM is found in the construction industry which feeds into infrastructure development which provides operational environment for their practices in the significant performances and contributions to National Development occasioned by Government of Ghana’s effectiveness, capital budget implementation policies with exposure to financial empowerment with the attendant capacity to acquire new technology, additional skills and knowledge through training, attractions of new comers and even the drift to alternative source(s) of livelihood among practitioners.” 

About ICEC 

Founded in 1976, the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) is a not for profit organisation that promotes cooperation between national and multinational Cost Engineering, Project Controls, Quantity Surveying and Project Management organisations around the globe. 

ICEC is an umbrella organisation that represents project cost management associations on a global scale. ICEC provides a global identity for the profession.  Its membership currently comprises over 40 professional associations spread throughout the world. ICEC collectively represents more than 120,000 project cost management professionals from over 100 different nations in the fields of Cost Engineering, Project Controls, Quantity Surveying and Project Management. These professionals are all members of ICEC member associations and this provides a tremendous international network of project cost management professionals, firms and associations.  

Significance of hosting the rest of the World in Ghana 

ICEC World Congress is the main centre-piece of the Council meeting held every two years. Member Associations from around the globe come together to network, share information/ ideas and to develop strategic plans for the ICEC organisation.

The last congress was held in Sydney, Australia in November 2018.  

Hosting the rest of the world will provide immense exposure and opportunity for professionals from Ghana to network and learn from some of the best in the world. It will also provide global network and strategic planning opportunities for Ghana and also has significant tourism benefits. 

Overall it has the capacity to enhance and contribute deeply towards the development of quantity surveying, cost engineering and project management in Ghana.