Consulting Civil Engineer, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has advised the Government of Ghana to focus on developing its infrastructure, as he describes it as the backbone of a healthy economy.
Although he admits COVID-19 has wreaked havoc globally with countries facing economic and environmental challenges, he insists it has become imperative for governments and industry players to rethink their priorities and pay more attention to building and sustaining the infrastructure sector.
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“Infrastructure is the backbone of a healthy economy. Solid infrastructure enables trade, powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs, creates opportunities for underserved communities and protects the nation from an increasingly unpredictable natural environment. An emerging economy such as ours needs an even more well-conceived, well-designed, well-built and efficiently maintained infrastructure,” he said.
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Delivering his address at the opening of the National Infrastructure Summit, he explained that infrastructure delivery has to be Sustainable. He noted that the concept of Sustainable Development has become the cornerstone of Global Development Policy since the adoption of Agenda 21 in 1992 during the much-heralded EARTH SUMMIT held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Citing some critical areas of infrastructure Ghana needs to focus on, the experienced engineer noted, “Critical Areas of the infrastructure sector include Road and Transport infrastructure (SDG11), ICT infrastructure, Water and Sanitation infrastructure (SDG6), Power Distribution infrastructure (Affordable and Clean Energy SDG7), Urban Regeneration(SDG11), Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Management (SGD13). It is therefore fair to say that important national goals and the welfare of every Ghanaian cannot be assured without the provision of sustainable and resilient infrastructure.”
With the construction sector supporting the workforce by providing millions of jobs, he argues that the statistics make it pretty obvious that a healthy construction sector is a prerequisite for accelerated economic growth.
A huge believer of the 3s (Selflessness, Service and Sacrifice), he told fellow engineers, “It is our moral duty to remain focused and be in-tune with the evolution of our industry. It is our duty to recognize the impact of our activities as well as our inaction. It is our duty both to Ghana and to our chosen professions.”
Concerned about Ghana’s increasing infrastructure deficit, Ing. Kwabena Agyepong added, “The current growth in our population exerts ever-increasing pressure on the already overtaxed existing infrastructure. We need to be ready to adapt to serve the millions of new customers and provide job opportunities. We also need to consider the many demographic and cultural changes that society is experiencing especially the uncontrolled urbanization, to efficiently determine the exact needs of our country and its people.
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The increased frequency of extreme events has exposed the inadequacies of the existing infrastructure. We must adopt a proactive approach to problems rather than a reactive one by accelerating the shift to the principles of the closed loop CIRCULAR ECONOMY and a more carbon-efficient infrastructure system. There should be increased collaboration between Built Environment Professionals involved in the design and delivery of Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure. There is more than enough evidence around us to showcase the overwhelmed state of our infrastructure.”
On his accord, Ghana’s ability to realize its competitive potential depends on her making smart infrastructure choices, with these choices specifically responding to the country’s economic, demographic, fiscal, and environmental changes if they are to help Ghanaians, places and businesses thrive and prosper.
