GhIE Ethics Lecture puts professional integrity at the heart of engineering excellence and public safety

Engineers must resist political and commercial pressure, uphold professional standards and put public safety ahead of personal interests, mining executive Ing Joshua Kwame Mortoti has warned, saying unethical decisions could endanger lives, undermine public trust and compromise Ghana’s development.

Delivering the keynote address at the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) Annual Ethics Lecture at the Engineering Centre in Accra on October 29, 2026, Ing Mortoti said engineering decisions must be guided by technical evidence, accountability and established safety standards rather than political instructions or financial interests.

“A government can decide that a community needs a bridge. Engineering must still establish how that bridge can be built and used safely,” he said.

Speaking on the theme “The Engineer as a Steward of the Public Interest: Ethics, Sustainability and Infrastructure Delivery,” Ing Mortoti urged engineers to withhold approval when essential safety tests remained outstanding, regardless of pressure to meet deadlines or proceed with commissioning ceremonies.

“An appointment letter gives us authority to discharge a responsibility. It does not transfer ownership of our professional judgment,” he said.

He cited the deaths of six contractor employees following a reclaim tunnel roof collapse at the Ahafo Mill Expansion project in April 2018 and the death of a contractor dump truck operator at Gold Fields’ Tarkwa operations in August 2023 as reminders of the consequences of inadequate safety management.

Ing Mortoti called for stronger supervision, effective risk management and equal protection for employees and contractors.

He also warned that corruption in procurement and inspection could result in defective infrastructure, higher maintenance costs and unreliable public services, ultimately burdening taxpayers and communities.

On sustainability, he highlighted Accra’s drainage and flood-resilience challenges and environmental degradation associated with illegal mining, known as galamsey.

He urged engineers to prioritise responsible planning, infrastructure maintenance and environmental protection throughout projects’ lifecycles.

President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, who chaired the event, challenged professionals to make integrity central to their work, arguing that ethical responsibility extended beyond legal compliance to doing what was right even without external enforcement.

“All is not lost. We have to straighten what is broken,” she said, urging professionals to translate their expertise into meaningful public service.

GhIE President Ing Ludwig Annang Hesse reinforced the call for ethical practice, saying engineering success should be measured not only by completed projects but also by their safety, sustainability and benefits to society.

“Engineering is not simply about what we can build. It is also about what we ought to build, how we build it, and whom our work ultimately serves,” Hesse said.

He urged members to uphold the Institution’s Constitution and Code of Ethics, particularly when financial constraints, tight deadlines or powerful interests threatened professional judgement.

Established in 2015, the annual lecture promotes ethical conduct and professional accountability.

The speakers stressed that Ghana’s development depends not only on the infrastructure it builds but also on the integrity of the professionals responsible for delivering it.

The lecture brought together engineers, business leaders, policymakers, academics, representatives of professional associations, industry stakeholders, past presidents of GhIE, Engineering Council and other invited guests to discuss the role of professional ethics in safeguarding public safety and advancing national development.