Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Kyei, has pledged to engage the services of local architects across the country to undertake government's infrastructural projects.

The move, the minister said, is to help ensure that monies, which could have otherwise been used in hiring foreign architects, are retained in the country to execute other economic projects.

Mr. Atta Kyei made this known in a keynote address delivered on Wednesday at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA).

The meeting, held under the theme: 'Partnering Government and MMDA's with Project Development for Economic Growth,' provided the opportunity for members of GIA to reflect on their performance during the year under review and to make a case to the central government on why local architects should be engaged for state projects.

According to him, the need to engage the services of local professionals in the housing sector has become urgent than ever before, adding that the Housing Ministry, under his watch, shall work hand-in-hand with local architects to formulate policies.

Speaking in an interview with BUSINESS GUIDE on the sidelines of the AGM, the minister said that “essentially, we have not dealt very well with the professionals in the area of infrastructural development.”

“So for example, we have undervalued the role of the architect, the quantity surveyors and the chain of professionals, who help in bringing about very enduring infrastructural development in the country,” he said.

In continuing, Mr. Atta Kyei indicated that “it is about time we give them their space. It is absolutely necessary that you get the local architects to formulate what will suit the Ghanaian circumstance with respect to putting up housing units.

“It is very significant that local architects are engaged to ensure that monies, which could have been used in hiring foreign architects, are retained in the country to promote economic growth, he said.

He asked members of GIA to come up with a legislation that will make it illegal for anyone to build in the country without engaging the services of professional architects.

President of GIA, Joseph Hayford, said local architects were ready to partner the government to achieve its goals in terms of infrastructural development.