The Architects Registration Council (ARC) has organised an induction ceremony to accept 33 new architects onto the standing Register of the Council after undertaking the Professional Practice Examination (PPE).

The 21st induction ceremony was held on Tuesday, December 7, at the Ghana Shippers’ House, Ridge, Accra under the theme: ‘The Duty, Command and Commitment to Commemorate Architecture each day of our lives’.

The induction ceremony bridges the academic and professional life of every architect. It climaxes six years of academic qualification at the university, a minimum of two years of post-qualification coaching and internship under a qualified senior architect, structured seminars and tutorials, and finally professional examination, with a minimum pass mark of 60% to gain state license to practice in Ghana.

The chairperson for the occasion was renowned Architect, Arc. Sylvia Linda Aku Larbi, of the Cube Consulting Architects. Guest of Honour was the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye. Overall Best Candidate was Bornmai, EugineNiiBortey.

Welcoming the guests, the Chairman of the 3rd Governing Board of the ARC, Arc. Richard Nii Dadey underscored the importance of the Induction Ceremony which is the admission of qualified Architects into the membership of the Ghana Institute of Architects and then the admittance into the body of professional architects by the ARC per the Architects’ Act of 1969 (NLCD 357) to practice in Ghana.

He said the ceremony marks the beginning of an exciting journey that comes with unique challenges as such the inductees should be innovative to be able to address current and future challenges.

Arc. Dadey therefore urged them to be constantly on the move and adapt to challenges in the environment as the theme suggest and be reminded that every human activity takes place in a space shaped by an Architect.

In a solidarity message, the President of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA), Arc. Samuel M. Quartey Congratulated the inductees and reminded them that the ceremony is not the climax but rather the start of a real Professional journey. “You have joined this fraternity at a time when the Ghanaian Architect is on a visibility mission, and earnestly trying to show to the public that we are comparable to our international colleagues. “Please come and take up positions to move this agenda forward”, he charged.

Arc. Quartey urged the inductees to look beyond mainstream Architecture and develop their careers.

“The District Assemblies desperately need Architects. As a country, we are lacking in local building materials variety and we need Architects to go into research and production. Architectural Journalism is an untapped area. Architects should get into politics, finance, engineering.”

Arc. Josephine Essie M. Kpesese, the Principal Assistant Registrar (PAR), the Acting Registrar of the ARC who administered the ARC’s Architect’s Oath to the Newly Admitted Architects reiterated that the ARC established through the Architects’ Act 1969, NLCD 357, concerns itself with state interventions on Architecture through education, training and practice. Section (5) of the Act states, (a), ‘The Council shall be concerned with the Architectural Profession and is charged with the responsibility of securing the highest practicable standards in the practice of Architecture’. “This gives the Council a two-fold regulatory responsibility to promote the Profession and protect the public”.

The PAR informed that in a bid to widen further the visibility of Architecture and strengthen the nexus between the Council and other Regulatory Councils in ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and satisfaction of the populace, the ARC is pursuing collaborative work and has for the first-time extended invitation to a wider group of Professional Institutions as well as Regulatory Councils.

She accentuated the theme for the ceremony stating it must be the never-dying clarion call for all players in the built industry and urged the newly admitted architects to live by the Oaths they took in their professional practice.

The Minister of Works and Housing (MWH), Francis Asenso-Boakye in his address congratulated the new Architects and urged the young professionals to utilize their expertise to produce innovative concepts and designs that will address national and global urbanization challenges.

“As a Ministry, we will create the enabling environment to ensure buildings are executed to standards that serve the needs of Society” he assured.

Mr  Asenso-Boakye received the Newly Admitted Architects and presented them to the State on behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana.

A Development Planner and Policy Specialist, the Hon Minister also seized the opportunity to call on the public to engage only the services of Registered Architects and Firms for their building projects in a bid to ensure that communities are developed in a sustainable manner.

In her closing remarks, Chairperson for the occasion, Arc. Sylvia Linda Aku Larbi emphasized that in every area of our lives, Architecture is included and although we find ourselves in uncertain times there is hope that in the face of projects, the Architect can be a tool for change stressing that homes are no longer a place of just an abode but the demand of time as such it’s incumbent on Architects to use their expertise to take risk factors and produce environmentally friendly designs.