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As part of its mandate to secure the highest practicable standards in Architectural practice carried out through the Practical Training Scheme, the Architect Registration Council (ARC) has launched the Professional Practice Training Handbook for Architects.

The handbook, 1st to be published under the Practical Training Scheme will provide structured guide and ready reference materials for Architecture students, Probationers under practical training and professionals in practice alike. It’s meant to bring focus, uniformity, direction and scope to professional practice. It is more durable, handy and easy to read.

Launching the book, Hon. Freda Prempeh, Deputy Minister for Works and Housing who represented the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea as Special Guest, described the launch as timely, emphasizing that any means of adding on good knowledge and providing direction to an individual’s life is important and as Architects are trained professionals whose work impact on the larger society, it is important that new entrants are well guided and adequately instructed to offer good service to humanity. She commended the ARC for putting together the training handbook to drive the course and urged all to support the Council in its quest to promote the Profession for a safe built environment.

Government, she noted, sees Architecture as a critical tool for national development, and assured the gathering that government will continue to give the Council the required support and backing to operate, citing policies such as the review of the Architects Act 1969, NLCD 357, and the Code of Conduct and Ethics for Architects. “The Ministry has also facilitated the setting up of the most needed committees to allow for the smooth running of the Council with respect to education and examinations, compliance, registration and disciplinary issues in the absence of a governing Board” she further disclosed.

In her welcome address Registrar of the ARC, Arc. (Mrs.) Stella N.D. Arthiabah also described the launch as good news for the Profession, observing that until today, notes and directions were captured and given as handouts to probationers during the Professional Practice Orientation Seminars held for both fresh graduates preparing for practical training for the first time and those ready for the professional exams, which was unsustainable.

She further observed that the Architecture Profession/Practice entails a lot of scope to study, citing areas such as Contract Administration, Project Management, Environmental Protection Requirement and Disability Requirement, which Probationers/Architects must know; as such the book will provide guidance for young Architects entering the Profession to know what is required of them and for Senior Architects to know the kind of apprenticeship to give.

She thanked stakeholders who worked on the book, including the team of Architects, the Board of ARC, Staff, Prof. Ralph Mills-Tettey (former Registrar of ARC) who provided the initial documentation, and the Ministry of Works and Housing for their supportive role; and assured that as a regulatory body mandated by Government to promote the Architectural Profession it shall continue to be innovative and update its training initiatives to drive the course. Mrs. Arthiabah again urged the Profession to expect the launch of its second book, a Practice Guide that will look at fundamental practices, procedures and principles required for sound Architectural practice.

The book launch held at the ARC head office at Ridge in Accra brought together stakeholders in the built environment Industry and Academia. It was chaired by Arc. Nii Teiko Evans-Anfom, a seasoned Architect, past president of the Ghana Institute of Architects, and Vice President of the Africa Union of Architects. Special Speaker was the Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea who was represented by his Deputy, Hon. Freda Prempeh. The Immediate Past Registrar of ARC, Prof. Ralph Mills-Tetteh performed the book review which he endorsed as having captured all the necessary areas in the Profession for Probationers to receive the necessary exposures for a good practice.

Chairman for the occasion, Arc. Nii Teiko Evans-Anfom in his remarks observed the introduction of a handbook as a utilization of all Architectural ideas assembled over the years and was optimistic it will not only be beneficial to students but employers and mentors as “information runs the world today” he said, and urged all to give the book a good patronage.