Ghana Institution of Engineers is thirty

Accra, March 31, GNA - Dr. Emmanuel Lartey, Former President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), on Friday stressed the need for members to design a technology that will make use of the country's natural resources.

"Natural resources such as building materials and medicinal plants could be designed to encourage savings and better integration with local conditions." Dr. Lartey, who was delivering the keynote address at the annual general meeting and conference of the GhIE, said in the case of the predominantly rural population, technology should be designed to contribute to raising the standard of living of the people.

Representatives from the South African Institution of Civil Engineers (SAICE) and Association of Technicians and Civil Engineers from Burkina Faso (AITB) are attending the conference, which coincided with the 30th anniversary celebration of the GhIE.

Dr. Lartey noted that technology for development, whether it is locally generated or imported, should be problem-specific, location and time specific. He stressed the need to pay attention to the physical environment in terms of possible effects of the technology, particularly imported technology, on it to avoid the application of technologies that would result in its degradation.

Dr. Lartey urged members to be "facilitating agents" in the activities of all agencies involved in technology development in the country. He said emphasis should be placed on the development of indigenous technology, appropriate technology transfer and adaptation of imported technology.

"In playing this role, the institution should seek to forge linkages with, and provide inputs into the activities of the agencies." Dr. Lartey called on members to institute an education endowment fund at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to assist in post-graduate courses in engineering.

The establishment of the fund will help the university to produce high calibre personnel for research and development work, he said, adding that, to achieve overall national development, priority should be given to research into areas such as food and agriculture, health and sanitation, housing, employment generation, rural industries and energy.

He urged women in technology to be involved in national programmes to encourage girls in second cycle institutions to pursue courses in engineering. Professor Kwesi Andam, President of the GhIE, explained that the council had to defer the 30th anniversary celebration in 1998 to coincide with the annual general meeting and conference to enable the anniversary committee to plan effectively.

An agreement of co-operation was later signed with the SAICE and AITB to encourage members to use their knowledge and skills for the enhancement of human welfare and to exchange technical and professional know-how to the mutual benefit of its members.

Mrs Allyson Lawless, President of the SAICE, signed on behalf of her institution while Mr Pierre Lompo, President of the AITB, initialled for his institution.