Ahmed Ibrahim warns engineers against compromising safety for lower costs

The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim, has cautioned that the drive to reduce construction costs must never come at the expense of human safety. Speaking at a three-day roundtable discussion on construction safety in Accra, the Minister emphasized that the integrity of Ghana's infrastructure is paramount and must not be undermined by financial shortcuts or technical negligence. He stated that maintaining rigorous standards is crucial to prevent structural failures that endanger lives and erode public confidence in the industry.

The Minister highlighted a concerning trend where project owners interfere with technical decisions, often pressuring professionals to bypass safety protocols to save money. Ibrahim noted that such interference, combined with a lack of consistent regulatory enforcement, has directly contributed to building collapses and other structural failures across the country. He described the neglect of safety as a grave issue that extends beyond physical damage, noting that it undermines the trust citizens place in regulatory institutions and the engineering profession.

Addressing the engineering community directly, Ibrahim urged professionals to uphold their ethical standards and resist any external pressure to approve substandard work. He asserted that maintaining construction standards is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental professional obligation. The Minister called for enhanced accountability within the sector, noting that preliminary investigations into recent incidents have revealed significant regulatory and safety deficiencies that must be addressed immediately.

Organized by the Engineering Council in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering and other international partners, the roundtable serves as a platform to evaluate Ghana’s engineering capabilities. Stakeholders at the event are working to identify specific challenges, including recurring flooding and building collapses, to develop comprehensive recommendations. The final proposals from the discussion are expected to guide the government in improving construction safety standards and ensuring the long-term sustainability of national infrastructure projects.