The Engineering Council of Ghana is gearing up for full enforcement of the Engineering Council Act, Act 819, by June 2025 – which will have significant implications for engineering practitioners, firms and educational institutions.
Currently, the Council is amid a nationwide sensitisation programme to encourage compliance with the Act and its accompanying regulations before strict enforcement begins.
For instance, Act 819, passed in 2011, mandates that all engineers, firms and educational institutions operating in Ghana’s engineering sector must be licenced.
According to Registrar of the Council Mr. Isaac Bedu, the decision to prioritise sensitisation before enforcement stems from a need to ensure that practitioners and institutions are well-informed about the Act and its regulations.
Hence, enforcement will only begin after ample time has been given for stakeholders to comply with the licencing requirements.
Failure to comply with licencing requirements will have severe consequences for individuals and firms. Under the provisions of Act 819, unlicenced practitioners will not be permitted to operate in the country. This applies to individual engineers, firms and educational units alike.
Therefore, by regulating the activities of engineers, the Council aims to eliminate substandard practices which plagued the industry in the past. There have been instances of non-compliance with standards in the production of building materials such as cement, which has raised public safety concerns.
“Licensure is supposed to ensure public safety and confidence in the engineering community,” the Registrar noted, adding that licenced engineers will practice with greater assurance – knowing they are meeting the highest standards.
The enforcement of Act 819 is seen as a necessary step toward sanitising the engineering space. Consequently, the Council’s efforts are expected to create a more regulated and professional industry; which will not only boost public confidence but also enhance the country’s infrastructure development.
The Engineering Council has already registered over 4,500 individual practitioners, a number expected to increase by end of the year. However, the process of registering firms and educational units has not yet commenced.
Once the sensitisation program is complete, institutions will begin the registration process, allowing for full enforcement by mid-2025.
