The five-day event would tackle topics including city planning, housing, flood challenges, infra­structure development, water engineering, ethical engineering practices, sustainable mining practices.

The engineers would also dis­cuss financing sustainable projects and women in engineering for sustainable development.

The President of GhIE, Prof. Rev Charles Anum Adams, said, for Ghana to achieve its develop­ment goals, the country should prioritise the role of engineers and engineering practice in our nation­al discourse.

“There is nothing that affects the country, and particularly Gha­na, that engineers do not have a role. But, in general, practitioners have been too quiet. We are shying away from talking, but, we must find our voices.

“Therefore, we must demand accountability from our politicians and hold them responsible for the infrastructure development in the country.We design, and, some­times they’ll push us to do things that are not even in our budget. It’s about time the professional institutions stood up and say no!”

Prof. Adams said, as profes­sionals, engineers should be bold and caution government about projects which were not in the interest of the people, while GhIE should continue to advo­cate the use of qualified technical and engineering consultants.

This, he said, would ensure efficient use of public funds and the delivery of quality in the needs of the people.

Prof. Adams said engineering was about applying science and mathe­matics, with technology to solve societal prob­lems for people to have a better living in their cities, communities and in their homes.

“Our country cannot solve the energy problems, flooding even our educational problems people need to go to school, if engineers are not brought to their rightful place and facilitated to do their work,” The GhIE President added.

Prof. Adams suggested a collab­orative approach in the training and regulation of all engineer­ing practitioners and others in the value-chain – policymak­ers, stakeholders, communi­ties, ministers, to realise the aspirations of the country.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, urged Ghana­ians to see engineers not just in theories, but, fully build tech­nology in Ghana for our energy transition.

“Our engineers must promote and build affordable concrete roads that will last 50 years and over. I want to see our engineers build agricultural machinery that will ensure cutlasses and hoes become museum pieces,” he said.

The Omanhen of Essikado, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, told the conference to study the logo of GhIE, the web work of the spider “Ananse,” learn the thoughts behind it, to become resilient engineers, who dreamt about the collectivity of Africa.