Professional Integrity and Safety Take Center Stage as Ghana Inducts New Engineers and Trains West African Journalists

Ghana’s professional landscape saw significant advancements this week with two major events focused on enhancing expertise and safety across the engineering and media sectors. In Accra, the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) formally inducted 194 new Professional Engineers, charging them to uphold high ethical standards amidst the country’s growing infrastructure challenges. Simultaneously, renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas spearheaded a comprehensive five-day training program for media practitioners from across the West African sub-region, emphasizing the critical need for safety, risk management, and continuous skill upgrades in an increasingly complex journalistic environment.

The GhIE induction ceremony welcomed a diverse group of specialists, including 77 Civil, 43 Mechanical, 26 Chemical, and 46 Electrical Engineers. Of the inductees, 188 qualified through rigorous examinations, while four were recognized for their extensive professional experience. Addressing the new members, GhIE President Ludwig Annang Hesse highlighted the pressing issue of recent building collapses in the capital, urging for stricter enforcement of regulations and professional accountability. He called on the government to prioritize structural audits of abandoned buildings and stressed that engineers have a primary responsibility to ensure public wellbeing through competence and integrity.

In parallel, the media safety workshop, organized by the Whistleblowers and Journalists Safety International Centre (WAJSIC) in partnership with the UK-based Lazarus Training Limited, provided 15 journalists with intensive training in risk assessment and personal security. Facilitators Glen Littmoden and Steven Richardson led sessions on conflict management, anti-surveillance techniques, and first aid. Mr. Anas Aremeyaw Anas, of Tiger Eye P.I., underscored that journalists must adapt to the evolving nature of their profession to remain effective. He urged practitioners to share knowledge and foster a culture of mutual safety to navigate dangerous field environments successfully.

These initiatives, supported by international partners such as the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Open Society Foundation for the journalism program, reflect a broader commitment to building national capacity and resilience. As Ghana navigates infrastructure deficits and the media faces new operational risks, the call for discipline and continuous professional development remains paramount. The GhIE and media stakeholders both emphasized that the future of their respective industries depends on a steadfast commitment to excellence, transparency, and the protection of those serving the public interest.