President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) Ing. Kwaku Boampong has told engineers in the country they must strive to ensure they incorporate the principles of sustainable development: that is, their projects protect the environment, meet economic needs and serve society – the ‘triple bottom line’.
Ing. Boampong said this during his opening remarks at the second in the series of Ghana Institution of Engineers’ Annual Lectures on Leadership and Ethics on Tuesday 9th February 2016, at the Engineers Centre, Roman Ridge, Accra.
“Continuous professional development of our members is a top priority of the GhIE.
The Council of the Institution therefore instituted this Annual Leadership and Ethics Lecture to promote engineering excellence and raise the bar for practicing the engineering profession so that engineers will be leaders in the development of Science, Engineering and Technology at all levels of society,” Ing. Boampong explained.
Under the theme ‘Quality of Life and Infrastructure: Do We Owe the Poor?’ Ing. Boampong, who was Chairman of the programme said: “In recent decades, the world has seen an unprecedented acceleration in technological development that has had far-reaching effects on our profession.
Today, engineers are responsible for incorporating the principles of sustainable development into every phase of their projects: that is, while ensuring that the project meets the economic needs of society they should be stewards of the environment, and protect the poor and vulnerable in society.
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Nishan de Mel, who is Executive Director and Head of Verité Research — a think-tank that provides analytical research and advisory services on economic, political and legal issues in Sri Lanka and Asia — said corruption has been perceived to be endemic in the construction sector.
Engineers are involved in engineering procurement and construction of mega-projects around the world, and in performing their duties they should remember the following:
- The poor and the vulnerable require protection. Morally, the powerful and people in authority should protect the poor.
- Recognise that we have received more because we are blessed. It was not by choice.
- There is a need to give back to society; the duty of reciprocity
- The poor are what they are because the powerful and those in authority have stolen from them.
Dr. Nishan added that to be leaders we should be part of the process that builds our nation, Ghana, to be a model for Africa and the world.
He hinted that Ghana and Sri Lanka have so many things in common ranging from Independence, which Sri Lanka attained in 1948 while Ghana got Independence in 1957; Sri Lanka’s population is 21 million with Ghana’s population being 25 million.
Both Ghana and Sri Lanka have similar political structures, with corruption issues similar in both countries.
The evening lecture was well-attended by some past-presidents of the GhIE and Council Members; Ing. Owura K. Sarfo — CEO of MiDA; Ing. Dr. Benjamin Ofosu Adoo, Chairman of Keegan Resources; Engineers, and other sister-professional bodies.
Source: B&FT Online