The Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) has announced a nationwide crackdown on individuals impersonating architects and foreign professionals practising illegally in Ghana.
The report indicates that the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) has announced a nationwide crackdown on individuals impersonating architects and foreign professionals practising illegally in Ghana.
It further notes that this follows the arrest of a suspect using a duplicated architectural stamp and registration number belonging to a licensed architect.
Mr. Tony Asare, President of the Ghana Institute of Architects and a Board Member of the Architects Registration Council (ARC), stated this in an interview in Accra.
According to Mr. Asare, the case came to light after concerns were raised over the authenticity of an architectural stamp used to endorse building drawings submitted to a client.
A registered architect subsequently sought verification of the stamp at the GIA Secretariat, where officials discovered discrepancies in the identity associated with the stamp.
Further investigations allegedly indicated that the suspect, identified as Fiati Kwame Edwin, who is not a registered architect, had been using the registration number and identity of Architect Anthony Parker-London, a licensed architect based in Tema, to illegally endorsebuilding drawings.
“We discovered that somebody had impersonated an architect. The architect whose registration number was used is Anthony Parker-London. The suspect used the architect’s registration number and identity to stamp drawings illegally,” Mr. Asare said.
He explained that the suspect was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, following a joint operation between the police and the Institute.
The duplicated stamp has since been retrieved as part of ongoinginvestigations.
Mr. Asare stated that the GIA was determined to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion to ensure that offenders face prosecution.
“We are not backing down. We are going to pursue this matter and ensure that the duplication of stamps and the impersonation of architects are dealt with according to the law,” he said.
The GIA President also issued a strong warning to foreign architects and firms operating in Ghana without the requisite registration and licensing from the Ghana Institute of Architects and the Architects Registration Council.
He noted that the Institute was aware of several foreign practitioners undertaking projects inthe country without complying with Ghana’s legal requirements governing architecturalpractice.
“If you practise in this country according to law, you must be registered. If not, you havecontravened the law, and for every day you practise illegally, you are liable to fines of 12 penalty units,” he said.
