The Director of Survey and Mapping, Abukari Abudulai, has called on newly licensed surveyors to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and commitment in their practice.
Speaking at the 2024 Survey and Mapping Division License Award Ceremony to a fresh cohort of land surveyors, Mr. Abudulai emphasized the critical role these individuals will play in shaping the future of cadastral surveying and geospatial activities in Ghana.
The ceremony, held at the La Palm Royal in Accra, saw the attendance of distinguished guests and seasoned professionals from the surveying industry.
The event marked the culmination of years of dedication for the new licensees, some of whom have awaited this milestone for up to six years.
In his welcome address, Mr. Abudulai congratulated the newly licensed surveyors on their hard work and perseverance, reminding them that the licenses they received represented more than just formal certification.
“These licenses are not mere pieces of paper,” he said, “they are a commitment to excellence, growth, and above all, to serving Mother Ghana.”
He further urged the new members to embrace the responsibilities their new roles entail, encouraging them to approach their work with the highest ethical standards.
Reflecting on the importance of integrity in the surveying profession, Abudulai pointed to the long-standing motto of surveyors: “speed, accuracy, and integrity,” and urged the newcomers to live by this code in all their professional endeavors.
“Your license comes with responsibilities – to your profession, to society, and to ethical standards,” he reminded the audience.
In a broader vision for the future, Abudulai highlighted the evolving landscape of land registration and geospatial management in Ghana.
He expressed optimism about the impact the new surveyors will have, particularly in the integration of online technology and artificial intelligence in land registration processes.
“With this new generation of talented professionals, we can transform the way spatial data is acquired, managed, and analyzed,” he said.
He further encouraged the surveyors to engage in continuous learning, collaborate with their peers, and contribute to the collective growth of the profession. “Your license is not an endpoint; it's a starting point,” Mr. Abudulai said, emphasizing the need for constant professional development and the pursuit of knowledge beyond traditional boundaries.
He urged the new members to actively participate in workshops, discussions, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, noting that “the solutions to our most pressing problems often emerge at the intersection of diverse expertise.”
A key point in his address was the significance of reducing the influence of unlicensed, or “quack,” surveyors, a persistent challenge in the industry.
Mr. Abudulai expressed confidence that the addition of these newly licensed professionals would help mitigate this issue.
“It is my fervent hope that the influx of licensed surveyors will drastically reduce the menace of quack surveyors,” he said, underscoring the need for ethical and skilled professionals in the field.
Addressing the existing members of the surveying community, Mr. Abudulai called on them to offer guidance and mentorship to the newcomers, recalling the early stages of their own careers and the value of support from seasoned colleagues.
“Any successful community thrives on the support of one another,” he remarked.
Mr. Abudulai left the new licensees with words of encouragement to “dream big” and to see their licenses as a canvas for achieving audacious goals.
On his part, Alex Quaynor, National Chairman of the Lands Commission, has emphasized the pivotal role surveyors play in Ghana’s infrastructural and national development, stating that their work extends beyond the country to impact the wider African continent.
Mr. Quaynor highlighted the essential role of the surveying profession in facilitating the planning and implementation of critical infrastructure.
“Surveyors are used not only in Ghana but across Africa to effectively put infrastructure in place for the benefit of the people,” he said, stressing the importance of surveying in national growth.
He acknowledged the Commission’s responsibility in equipping surveyors with the necessary tools to excel in their work.
He noted that the Surveying Division of the Lands Commission is actively working to ensure that the professionals are provided with essential equipment to enhance their performance.
Licensing competent individuals is a key priority for the Commission, Quaynor added, emphasizing the need for expertise in the field.
“Competence is very important,” he remarked, urging newly licensed surveyors to thoroughly grasp the fundamentals of the profession over several years of practice.
“Please don’t assume the certificate is enough; you must continuously improve yourselves and adhere to the rules and regulations of the profession.”
Mr. Quaynor also stressed the importance of maintaining high standards, warning that a failure to do so could create significant problems within the profession.
He reminded surveyors of their critical role in the country's development, encouraging them to uphold integrity and professionalism in their work.
Taking his trurn, Mr. Benjamin Arthur, Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission charged newly licensed surveyors to uphold the integrity and reputation of the Commission as they begin their professional journeys.
He emphasized that surveying is the foundation of all land-related professions and that surveyors play a crucial role in representing the Lands Commission on the field.
“As incoming surveyors, you need to remember that you are representing the Lands Commission in the field. The Commission’s interests must also be your interests,” he said, calling the new surveyors ambassadors of the institution.
Mr. Benjamin Arthur highlighted the need for improved service delivery, stressing that the actions of surveyors directly impact the Commission’s reputation.
“What you do tells the reputation of the Lands Commission. We have to improve our service delivery to ensure that what we do has a positive impact on our clients,” he noted.
The ceremony saw several new professionals licensed to begin their work, with an emphasis on upholding ethical standards and enhancing the efficiency of land-related services in Ghana.
Jones Ofori-Boadu, Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Corporate Services at the Lands Commission stressed the need to expand the presence of licensed surveyors across Ghana to combat the growing influence of unlicensed, or "quack," surveyors.
Mr. Ofori-Boadu emphasized the importance of professional standards in the industry, noting that increasing the number of licensed surveyors would reduce the activities of quacks.
“The menace of quack surveyors will be reduced to the barest minimum once we have licensed professionals populated across the country,” Mr. Ofori-Boadu said.
He pointed out that quack surveyors often become the first point of contact for those seeking survey services, but with more licensed professionals available, this trend will change.
Mr. Ofori-Boadu also outlined plans to ensure certified surveyors are not concentrated only in Accra but spread across the nation, contributing to a smoother land registration process countrywide.
"This is the process of making sure land registration across the country will be very smooth," he added.
The ceremony underscored the Lands Commission’s commitment to raising professional standards and improving service delivery in the surveying industry.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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