By Celestine Avi
British-Ghanaian Architect David Adjaye, OBE, is formally registered to practice as an Architect in Ghana. In Accra on Monday, he was inducted as a registered, licensed member of the Architects Registration Council. The official ceremony means Sir David Adjaye, the architect designing Ghana’s National Cathedral and other projects can legally do his work.
After receiving the annual practicing license Certificate 2022, the Board Chairman of the Architects Registration Council, Mr. Richard Dadey said, Sir Adjaye has fulfilled all registration requirements and is now qualified to practice his career in Ghana in conformity with the Architects Act 357. He was confident that Sir David Adjaye will think differently, dream differently and create differently as expected of the profession.
“As leaders that built the environment landscape, we are continuously challenged to generate solutions today that will address the unknown requirements of the future. This is our duty and command. I wish to emphasize that as you take the oath you are immediately called upon to use architecture to improve the environment and lives around you.”
While congratulating him on this achievement, the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Francis Asenso Boakye, said Ghana can tap into the renowned architect’s wealth of experience and expertise.
“The Potential of using architecture to overturn the economic fortunes of countries positively cannot be over emphasized. This is evident in almost all advanced countries and emerging economies. Through this, you can leverage on investors to buy into these innovative ideas to address our current housing challenges”.
Sir David Adjaye, OBE, said, for the past four years he established in Ghana, he has engaged over 100 Ghanaian Architects. Sir David Adjaye, OBE was grateful for the gesture, promising to inspire young architects with his professionalism.
“It is every day with great pleasure for me to be able to see a new generation of architects getting extraordinary experience of the works we are doing all over the continent. And so it’s really with that I am grateful to be conferred with this honour to be able to continue helping new generations and to practice and support in the “build environment agenda”.
Sir David Adjaye OBE, is one of the world’s most celebrated architects. He has been practicing architecture for over thirty years. His offices are established in the UK, US and other 15 countries in the entire continent including Ghana. His firm, Adjaye Associates, has completed more than 70 projects around the world ranging from galleries and shopping malls, to vast university buildings, museums and skyscrapers.
In 2017, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to Architecture and described as “one of the leading architects of his generation; a global and Cultural Ambassador for the UK.
Sir Adjaye’s work includes the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo, Stephen Lawrence Centre in London, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, Latvian Museum of Contemporary Art, Riga, Edo Museum of West African Art, in Benin City.
