The Honorable Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Freda Prempeh has launched the maiden Professional Practice Handbook for Architects at the Architects Registration Council (ARC) in Accra.The handbook is to guide all qualified persons through practical training to registration as Registered Architects under the Architects Act 1969, NLCD 257.
It is also to provide a structured guide for probationer Architects and rules and guiding notes for employers or mentors of probationers among others.
Launching the handbook, the Deputy Minister commended the Council for their work and said the handbook will provide the framework for transitioning from academic qualification to professional qualification and registration as a Registered Architect in Ghana.
She said the training handbook is useful to anyone who is ready to take the necessary steps towards his or her learning and professional growth and that the development of human resource has always been a critical part in the quest for a just and equitable society where the need of the wider society is met.
According to Honorable Freda Prempeh, Architects play a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country and that in support of the Council, the Ministry of Works and Housing in 2017, approved the professional fees for built environment consultants, which included architects.
The Deputy Minister, revealed that the Ministry is on course with the processes for the review of the Architects Act 1969, NLCD357, and the Code of Conduct and Ethics for Architects, adding that the Ministry has facilitated the setting up of committees to allow smooth running of the Council with respect to education and examinations, compliance, registration and disciplinary issues.
The Registrar of ARC, Madam Stella Arthiabah, noted that, the handbook is the first to be published under the Practical Training Scheme and this is expected to provide a structured guide and ready reference material for architecture students, probationers under practical training and professionals in practice alike.
The Chairman for the occasion, Nii Teiko Evans-Anfom, emphasized that, the handbook is critical for the crystallization of ideas, not only for students but employers as well as help bring about drastic transformation in the lives of students.