The Architects Registration Council (ARC) has inducted 61 new architects, granting them state licences to practise as architects in the country after passing the Professional Practice Examination (PPE).  

The ceremony, which marks a significant step towards strengthening architectural standards and compliance in the country was held in Accra, on the theme: “Enhancing architecture compliance and enforcement: Call for collaboration.”

The induction, which bridges the academic and professional life of architects, climaxes six years of academic qualification at the university, a minimum of two years of post-qualification coaching and internship under a qualified principal architect.

They were also taken through structured seminars and tutorials and a professional examination before gaining a state licence to practise. 

The colourful event was attended by board members, Fellows, past presidents, principal architects, representatives from the built environment professional bodies, Registrars of Councils and the academia.

The inductees were sworn in by both the ARC and the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) by the Registrar and the President respectively.

Regulation

The Registrar of ARC, Dr Emmanuel Eyiah-Botwe, stressed the council’s dedication to regulating architecture practice as a cornerstone of national development and achievement of sustainable and an aesthetically appealing built environment. He described the exercise as a reaffirmation of ARC’s mission to uphold the highest standards and professional integrity.

“For this reason, we are happy to announce the renovation and expansion of our Head Office into a three-storey building, procurement of a vehicle by the Ministry of Works and Housing and the setting up of an enforcement unit, all in a bid to enhance compliance and enforcement,” the registrar said.

Dr Eyiah-Botwe urged the inducted architects to embrace the responsibilities that come with the achievement. 

Compliance

The Chairman of ARC’s Governing Board, Richard Nii Dadey, said the “government alone could not enforce compliance without our voluntary commitment”.

“Let’s integrate accessibility and safety considerations into every design to ensure a built environment that serves all,” he added.

The Chief Director at the Ministry of Works and Housing, Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei, described architects’ role as “custodians of safety and sustainability” amid the complexities of urbanisation.

He outlined the government’s initiatives to support compliance, including establishing a Works Inspectorate Directorate Unit to oversee architectural qualifications and fostering a system for strict collaboration. 

Inadequate architects

The President of GIA, Foster Osae Akonnor, bemoaned the absence of architects in metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDA) in the country. 

“Architecture in Ghana faces a crisis. Few MMDAs have architects which hampers developmental control. I urge our new architects to step up, collaborate and contribute their skills where they are most needed,” the president added.

The Head of the Local Government Service, Dr Nana Ato Arthur, said that adherence to professional standards protected public welfare and fostered high-quality human settlements.

He, therefore, urged the inductees to see compliance as a shared responsibility with the state and also uphold rigorous standards in their work.

The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West Constituency, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, a qualified architect who chaired the occasion, reiterated the importance of compliance in the practice of architecture, urging the new architects to prioritise local issues, such as illegal mining, while advocating sustainable solutions in the country’s built environment. 

The Overall Best Candidate, Nana Ayensua Amonoo, in a valedictory speech, encouraged her fellow inductees to embrace curiosity, professionalism and a shared commitment to improve the country’s infrastructure.