The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-GH), has rejected recent comments made by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, which suggested that engineers in the region were responsible for the wrongful issuance of a building permit for a project situated on a Ramsar site.
The minister reportedly called for the transfer of 99.9% of engineers from the region over the issue.
In response, IET-GH issued a press statement on April 10, 2025, clarifying the role of engineering practitioners within Ghana’s local governance and development permit systems.
According to IET-GH, the responsibility for issuing building or development permits does not lie with engineers.
Citing the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925), the institution explained that the authority to issue such permits is solely vested in the Spatial Planning Committee (SPC) of the respective Metropolitan, Municipal, or District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The SPC, a multi-disciplinary committee chaired by the Chief Executive of the Assembly, includes professionals from various departments such as physical planning, works, roads, disaster prevention, environmental protection, and traditional authorities, among others.
“The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-GH), has noted with concern a recent statement by the Greater Accra Regional Minister suggesting the transfer of 99.9% of engineers from the region over the issuance of a building permit for a project on a Ramsar site.
“This assertion is not only unfortunate but also a misrepresentation of the roles and responsibilities of engineering practitioners within the local government structure.
“We wish to categorically clarify that engineering practitioners are not responsible for the issuance of building or development permits,” the statement emphasized.
The institution also called for a thorough investigation into any claims that individual engineers may have bypassed proper procedures to issue permits.
It stressed that any such actions, if confirmed, would constitute professional misconduct and should be dealt with through the appropriate regulatory channels.
IET-GH has appealed to the Office of the Chief of Staff to consider organizing orientation programmes for Regional Ministers.
These programmes, the institution suggested, would help improve knowledge of local governance systems, applicable laws, and the roles of professionals involved in the built environment.
AM/KA
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