The President of Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), Ing. Rev. Prof. Charles Anum Adams, has said that there is the need for the digitalisation of public procurement processes in the construction, infrastructure, and engineering sectors to increase transparency and get rid of corruption.

Ing. Rev. Prof. Charles Anum Adams said this when he delivered a welcome address at the Business Ethics programme organised by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Alliance for Integrity Project in collaboration with the GhIE to launch a Scenario-Based Learning Tool (SBL) for members of the GhIE at the Engineering Centre, Roma Ridge, Accra on Tuesday, 30th August, 2022.

He acknowledged the German Government through its Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union(EU) for funding this initiative.

Giving the background of the programme, the GhIE President said, in recognition of the potential of digitalisation, couple with the need to contribute towards anti-corruption efforts, the Alliance for Integrity mounted a digitalization drive towards corruption prevention in both private and public spheres of societal life.

“I am pleased to welcome you all to the Engineering Centre, the home of Engineering in Ghana, to the launch of the Scenario-Based Learning tool for GhIE members. GIZ has been a good collaborator and partner of the GhIE in the last few years. They are working with the GhIE on the professionalization of Artisans to bring craftsmen into the GhIE as Licensed professionals. This Scenario-Based Learning tool will no doubt provide the needed support to our membership to understand what business acts may be unethical or corrupt and what it means to individuals, their companies, and the consequences”, Ing. Prof. Charles Adams explained.

In her address, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Enterprise Agency and Chair of the Alliance for Integrity Ghana, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, said that corruption can hold a country back as it affects employment generation, infrastructure development and increase poverty. In a corrupt society, especially in developing countries, women tend to suffer the most.

Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh added that digitalisation is part of the anti-corruption crusade; it reduces discretion, increases transparency, as well as deepens institutional accountability. With these, we create a world where no one is left behind.

“The Government of Ghana has identified digitalization as a means through which its determination to fight against corruption can be achieved by employing various techniques, including the building of anti-corruption systems and greater application of technology”, Mrs. Kosi concluded.

Giving statement and overview of GhIE Ethics programme, Ing. Ludwig Anang Hesse, Chair of GhIE Professional, Practice and Ethics Committee said, the GhIE ensures that Engineering Practitioners in the Engineering Industry maintain Professional Standards, adhere to regulations, guidelines, and codes of ethics of engineering practice by conforming to internationally established Technical environmental and safety standards.

He added that the GhIE organises Ethics forum every year for its members to remained up to date with ethical issues. It is against this background that this partnership with Alliance for Integrity and GIZ to launch the Scenario-Based Learning tool (SBL) for GhIE members is a welcome idea.

Susanne Friedrich, Director of Alliance for Integrity Project, who joined the program by zoom explained the SBL is a digital tool that aims at providing a digitally supported learning platform for the members of the GhIE to undergo a self-learning and assessment session on compliance measures and best ethical and professional standards.

She mentioned 'TheIntegrityApp' yet another digital tool which is already made available by the Alliance for Integrity Project to enable businesses to self-assess themselves on compliance issues.

The director also underscored the importance of other offers provided by the project to include awareness raising activities, trainings, as well as research publications.

Finally, Director Susanne Friedrich in her wrapping up made a call to the audience to get involve, as the collective action is the best approach to making the economic system better for enhanced development. 

During the Roundtable discussion on the topic; Digitalisation as Strategy in Anti-Corruption Efforts and its Integrity Prospects in Africa, the panel members who dissected the topic and answered questions from the participants were: Frank Abdulai Iddrisu, Financial Crime Investigator-Fidelity Bank; Ing. Dr. Patrick Amoah Bekoe-GhIE; and Ing. Bismark Otoo. It was moderated by Sandra Amankrah-Junior Technical Advisor, Alliance for Integrity.

Other dignitaries who attended the programme include Immediate Past President of GhIE, Ing. Alexander Leslie Aryeh, who is also the President of Federation of West African Engineering Organization (WAFEO); Executive Director of GhIE, Ing. David Nyante; President-Elect of GhIE, Ing. Kwabena Bempong; and other present and past Presidents of GhIE.

Equally present in the event was representatives of other partner organisations of Alliance for Integrity; members of the Advisory Group of Alliance for Integrity and invited working group members.

The event was jointly coordinated by Project Staff of Alliance for Integrity and Ghana Institution of Engineering. We are also highly grateful to the media and all other technical team for their presence and support.