Ghana Institution of Engineering backs AI to drive sector efficiency

Ghana Institution of Engineering backs AI to drive sector efficiency. Civil engineers in Ghana are raising concerns over the growing administrative burden that consumes a significant portion of their working time, limiting productivity on core engineering tasks. Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions are beginning to transform the sector, offering faster, smarter, and more efficient ways of working.

Industry players say engineers spend between 30 and 50 per cent of their time on paperwork, documentation, and approvals. Ing Aaron Boateng-Duah says many engineering firms still rely heavily on traditional systems, where approvals are handled through emails and physical documentation. He explained, "There is a lot of paperwork, signing of documents, and email follow-ups before approvals are granted. Sometimes you send an email and wait a long time for a response, which delays work." Michael Koduah, Chairman of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, acknowledges the benefits of AI but cautions that it cannot replace human expertise. He said, "AI is clearly becoming an important tool in our industry, but as engineers, we must apply professional judgment to ensure outputs are accurate and suitable for real-world application." McLean Mensah described the technology as a major breakthrough for engineers dealing with heavy reporting responsibilities.

Stakeholders believe AI will play a critical role in reducing administrative burdens, improving efficiency, and strengthening project delivery, while human expertise remains essential to ensure accuracy and accountability.