The Ghana Institute of Architects has raised alarm over a critical shortage of architects in the country, warning that the situation poses serious risks to public safety and construction standards.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning
Show on Monday, March 30, the Institute’s President, Tony Asare, revealed that
Ghana has only about 10 approved architects serving all 261 metropolitan,
municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs).
He described the situation as a
major systemic gap that leaves many construction projects without proper
professional oversight, increasing the likelihood of structural failures.
We have 261 assemblies, and there are only ten architects. I am not sure they have more than twelve or twenty,” he said.
His comments come in the wake of
the recent building collapse at Accra New Town, which resulted in fatalities
and multiple injuries.
According to Asare, the lack of
qualified architects within local assemblies often leads to weak supervision of
building projects, allowing substandard construction practices to go unchecked.
He noted that the Institute has
repeatedly raised concerns about the issue with local authorities, but little
progress has been made. He pointed out that assemblies are not legally required
to maintain a full complement of architects and engineers, further compounding
the problem.
Asare warned that without urgent
reforms, including stronger regulations and the deployment of more
professionals to assemblies, the country risks continued building failures.
He stressed that improving
professional oversight in the construction sector is essential to ensuring
safer infrastructure and more sustainable urban development.
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