The Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo (Mrs.), has told engineering practitioners in the country that issues such as corruption, safety concerns and adherence to the code of ethics have always dented the engineering profession’s nobility.
She added that since engineers shape our infrastructure, propel technological advancement and drive innovation, their role is pivotal to the nation’s progress and prosperity.
Her Ladyship Justice Torkornoo made these remarks while chairing the 2023 Annual Ethics and Leadership Lecture of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), held at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge-Accra, last week Thursday.
She said choice of the theme ‘Improving National Values, Professional Practice and Engineering Ethics’, is demonstrative of the fact that the engineering profession recognises its traditional role in the Republic of Ghana.
In his welcome address, Chair-Professional Practice & Ethics Committee, GhIE, Ing. Ludwig Hesse, explained that in pursuit of ethical excellence within the engineering profession, engineers must recognise the pivotal role of national values in shaping the landscape of their conduct. He said that even though numerous professionals, engineers included, hold leadership positions within public institutions and belong to professional organisations like the GhIE which have established code of ethics, we seldom witness these professional bodies holding their members to account.
President-GhIE, Ing. Kwabena Bempong, in his remarks, said as engineering practitioners they “recognise the enormous responsibility placed on them in the infrastructure development of our dear country and the world at large”. He continued that engineers have a sacred responsibility toward society, and this is a charge they must keep. “Lack of ethical behaviour on the part of engineers could have disastrous trust, safety, financial and economic implications for our beloved country, and their professional reputation will thus be irredeemably damaged,” the GhIE president added
Guest Speaker for the lecture, Ing. Yaw Nsarkoh – who is a chemical engineer by profession and a renowned public speaker, suggested that any professional engineer who does a sloppy and shoddy job and causes mass injury and fatalities should be jailed and stripped of their professional status.
Ing. Yaw Nsarkoh explained that whatever this country has become, professionals deserve their equal share of credit – and blame as well. He said authorities must apply sanctions and the law must work where engineers, and indeed all professions, are involved. If it has become the case that everywhere engineers have become complicit in subverting public procurement practices, by paying bribes for deals and sustaining a system of political patronage, people must suffer for it. He added that it should not be a matter of discretion to be an ethical or values-led professional.
Speaking to media on the ethics lecture’s sidelines, Executive Director-GhIE, Ing. David Kwatia Nyante, said GhIE represents over 10,000 registered professionals who are spread over four main technical divisions: namely the Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical technical divisions. He said all modern engineering disciplines such as computer engineering, aerospace, biomedical, petroleum, Oil and Gas etc., are grouped under one of these divisions.
The well-attended GhIE Ethics and Leadership lecture was attended by Vice President-GhIE, Ing. Sophia Abena Tijani; Council members, past presidents and members of GhIE, and the media.
