The Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ghana, says members who fail to renew their subscriptions risk losing their status as professional engineers.

Northern Sector Chairman, Engineer Alexander Kello, told JoyNews such members will not receive certification and stamps to practice professionally.

He entreated members to be guided by the legislative instrument (L.I 2410) which defines who qualifies to be members within the engineering bodies of Ghana.

The Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ghana, is concerned about members who have not renewed their membership subscription fee.

According to Engineer Alexander Kello, some members continue to use their expired certificates and stamps for years without making any effort to renew them.

"There is the need for members to be in good standing in terms of payment of subscription. So if you are a member and you don't pay your subscription fee, there is no way the institute will submit your name to the engineering council for registration," Engineer Kello said.

The official stamp for engineers is a measure of standard professionalism in the engineering industry.

The stamp helps to identify and verify engineering documents and works supervised by professional engineers.

Though some engineers have the stamps after passing the engineering exams, they are required to renew their membership subscription fee on an annual basis.

Engineer Kello said the Engineering Council would start publishing names of engineers in good standing beginning next year.

"If you’re an engineering practitioner and don't pay your subscription fee before September, your name will not be published the following year as a member in good standing," he stressed.

The subscription fee enables the institute to track the works of all practitioners in the country.

"We should be able to identify any practitioner who works on any physical structure," the chairman added.

While some engineers supported the publication of names, others appealed for more time for members to honour payment of outstanding arrears.

Executives in the northern sector also called on non-members to join the Institute by taking the professional exams next month.

Northern sector organizer, Abdul-Aziz Abubakar urged engineering graduates who are practicing to join professional bodies like the Institute of Engineering and Technology.