African business mogul Sir Sam Jonah has urged the Ghana Institute of Architects to break their silence and become a moral force.
At the GIA’s Annual General Meeting on November 20, he charged architects of neglecting their civic duty amid national crises like rampant corruption and illegal mining.
Jonah asserted that architects’ responsibilities extend beyond design, highlighting the need for supervision, integrity, and advocacy in construction. He linked the profession’s inaction to systemic failures, stating that when a building collapses due to shoddy work, the entire system is at fault.
He criticised the GIA for failing to address the impacts of illegal mining, which threatens Ghana’s land and resources. Jonah questioned the Institute’s silence during critical moments, particularly when its rules were disregarded and contracts were awarded without legal basis.
He urged the GIA to elevate its role from “technical assistants” to “ethical leaders,” emphasising that silence amid misuse is not professionalism but abandonment of duty.
Jonah called on professionals to reclaim their moral courage, asserting that their inaction in the face of corruption only enables wrongdoing. He made a poignant reminder that the silence of educated professionals contributes to national decline.
