Ghana Institute of Architects explains role in ARC-ASG dispute — MyJoyOnline
The Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) said its position in the dispute between the Architects Registration Council (ARC) and the Architectural Society of Ghana (ASG) had been misrepresented. The institute stressed that it does not exercise and does not claim the regulatory powers that the law assigns to the ARC, MyJoyOnline reports.
Regulator's powers
According to the GIA's explanation, the ARC is the statutory regulator established under the Architects Act of 1969 (NLCD 357). The council is responsible for registering architects, maintaining the official register, setting professional standards and regulating architectural practice.
At the same time, the GIA has institutional duties within the same legislative framework, including representation in the ARC's governing structure. The institute said that it therefore considered it appropriate to inform its members about correspondence received from the regulator concerning the profession.
Memorandum and ASG status
The GIA explained that the internal memorandum referred to by the ASG was intended solely for the institute's members and was not a public statement or an attack on any organization. The document was intended to inform members about communication between the ARC and the ministry that oversees the council.
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The institute also recognized citizens' right to establish lawful organizations. According to the GIA, the ASG states that it does not seek to assume the ARC's regulatory functions and is engaged in professional development, education, advocacy and building professional connections.
At the same time, the GIA emphasized the distinction between registration under the Professional Bodies Registration Act of 1973 (NRCD 143) and recognition or statutorily defined responsibility under the Architects Act. The institute said that the position of not recognizing the ASG as the national professional body of architects under NLCD 357 was expressed by the ARC, not the GIA.
The GIA added that it was not the author of the ARC's letter to the Ministry of Works and Housing and did not determine its recipients. The issue of the ASG's registration and status is currently being considered by a court, so the institute does not intend to assess the course of these proceedings through the media.
