By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Dec. 3, GNA- Mr Ernest Banning, FGIA, a Fellow of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) will deliver the keynote address at the Institute’s 2nd Annual Founders’ Day Lecture in Accra on Thursday December 4, 2025.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Daniel Kwadjo Teye, Honorary Secretary, said the event would be on the theme: “Timeless Foundations, Endless possibilities”.
It said the theme was a reflection on the enduring principles that shaped Ghanaian architecture and the new horizons that lie ahead for the profession.
The statement said this year’s keynote lecture, titled “Designing for a Sustainable Tomorrow,” would invite architects and the broader built-environment community to consider how Ghana could create resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible spaces in the face of increasing urbanisation and climate-related challenges.
It said Mr Banning, who is also the Principal and Co-Founder of Modula Group, would explore how the wisdom of Ghana’s architectural heritage, when combined with contemporary technologies and ecological approaches, could guide a more sustainable future for cities, communities, and national development.
Mr Banning brings to this year’s lecture more than five decades of transformative practice.
His illustrious career includes the design and supervision of major national landmarks such as Ridge Towers and the Bank of Ghana Cash Processing Centre, the largest facility of its kind in West Africa.
His leadership in the Government’s Affordable Housing Programme contributed significantly to the delivery of thousands of housing units nationwide.
It said beyond practice, his early leadership as President of the KNUST Architecture Students Association and later as a lecturer at KNUST cemented his role as a mentor and educator to multiple generations of architects.
His entrepreneurial achievements, exemplified by the Royal Basin Resort and Banivillas Hostels, further demonstrate his ability to merge design excellence with strategic enterprise.
The statement said in recognition of this extraordinary professional journey, the GIA would honour Mr Banning during the event with the T.S. Clerk Award, the highest distinction bestowed by the Institute.
This prestigious award is named in memory of Mr Theodore Shealtiel Clerk, who was the first architect formally registered with the Institute and a trailblazer in Ghana’s architectural history.
Mr T. S. Clerk is best remembered for Master Planning Tema Township (one of Africa’s most visionary post-independence urban development projects) and for setting the standards of professionalism, innovation, and national service that continue to guide the practice today.
It said the award, therefore, represented not only outstanding architectural achievement but a profound contribution to nation-building and the advancement of the architectural profession.
“Mr Banning’s lifelong work strongly embodies these ideals,” it added.
The Founders’ Day Lecture is intended to be both reflective and forward-looking, commemorating the intellectual courage and civic vision of the Institute’s pioneering members, while challenging today’s practitioners to uphold those values in an era of rapid technological change and new environmental realities.
The lecture will provide an opportunity for architects, students, policymakers, developers, and the public to engage in a meaningful dialogue on sustainability, architectural responsibility, and the future of Ghana’s built environment.
The GIA continues to uphold its mandate to advance architectural practice, education, and accreditation in Ghana.
It stands as one of the Institute’s most significant intellectual platforms, honouring the past while inspiring innovation, professionalism, and excellence in shaping the nation’s architectural future.
GNA
Christian Akorlie