The Engineering Council has set February 27, 2026, as the deadline for engineering practitioners, firms, and training institutions to regularise their status or risk sanctions, as it intensifies enforcement of mandatory registration and licensing under the Engineering Council Act, 2011 (Act 819).

In a public notice issued on Monday, February 2, the Council stressed that no individual or firm is legally permitted to practise engineering or offer engineering services in Ghana without proper registration, warning that non-compliance after the deadline will attract penalties.

The directive affects engineering practitioners, consulting firms, contractors, and educational institutions offering engineering programmes nationwide, as the Council moves to tighten oversight and accountability within the profession.

Under the law, engineers are required to obtain certification from a licensed professional body before registering with the Council. Practitioners have therefore been directed to complete their certification through either the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) or the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-GH), ahead of the February 27 deadline.

The Council explained that only practitioners, firms, and institutions that fully comply with the registration requirements will be captured in its official registers, which will be published on the Council’s website and in the Gazette. These registers are expected to serve as key reference points for government agencies, private developers, financiers, and procurement entities when awarding contracts.

According to the Council, the enforcement drive is part of broader efforts to professionalise the engineering sector, improve standards, and reduce risks associated with unregulated practice, particularly in critical areas such as infrastructure, construction, energy, and industrial projects.

It further cautioned that practising engineering or endorsing engineering documents without registration constitutes a criminal offence under Section 44 of Act 819 and will attract sanctions.

The Engineering Council has therefore urged all affected stakeholders to act promptly, warning that failure to meet the February 27 deadline could disrupt ongoing projects and professional practice as enforcement takes full effect.