In exercise of the powers conferred on the Architects Registration Council of Ghana by the Architects Decree, 1969 (N.L.C.D 357), the following Regulations towards the practice of Architecture in Ghana are presented for the information of all Architects, District/ Municipal/ Metropolitan Assemblies and the General Public.Special attention is hereby drawn to the following sections of the Architects Decree, 1969:

18.1 No person whose name is not for the time being entered in the Register of Architects may take or use the title of "Architect" or practice under any name, title or style containing the word "Architect" or practice under any name,title or style containing the word "Architect", "Architecture" or "Architectural".

22.1 No registration architect shall be entitled to practice as an architect unless he is a holder of an annual practicing certificate which is for the time being in force.

22.2 A practicing certificate shall be issued by the Council upon application to it by the registered architect and upon payment of the prescribe annual fee.

22.3 Every certificate to practice shall be valid until the 31st day December of the year of issue of that certificate and may from time to time be renewed upon payment of the prescribe annual subscription, provided that if at any time during the currency of any such certificate , the holder, therefore ceases to be registered under the Decree or has his registration suspended, the certificate shall cease to be valid.

Membership of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) is a pre-requisite for registration with the Architects Registration Council. In this respect the GIA has recently expanded its membership categories to include Standing, Provisional and Temporary membership. The intension is to facilitate the necessary parallel registration by all architects (with approved training) with the Architects Registration Council now operates the following Registers:

STANDING REGISTER FOR THE REGISTRATION OF INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECTS
(i) a person who is duly qualified as an architect,
(ii) intends to practice permanent in Ghana
(iii) fulfils the requirements of the Decree regarding registration
Such a person shall be registered on the Standing Register for individuals and may use the title ' chartered architect', act as an architectural consultant , or submit building plans for planning and development approval.                   

PROVISIONAL REGISTER FOR INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECTS
(i) A person who has passed a course of study in architecture approved by the Council shall be registered on the Provisional Register
(ii) May use the title architect,
(iii) Work use the title architect, or
(iv) Submit plans for planning and development approval only under the name and signature of a chartered architect listed among architects of good standing
(v) Such a person shall not act as a principal or an architect consultant
 Download an application form (PDF 2 pages,97 KB)

TEMPORARY REGISTER FOR INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECTS
(i) A person who has passed a qualifying examination of any society or Institute of Architects approved by the Council, and who does not intend to practice permanently in Ghana.
Shall be registered on the temporary register for the registration of individual architects
 Download an application form (PDF 2 pages,78 KB)

STANDING REGISTER FOR FIRMS
An architectural Firm that fulfils the requirements of the Decree regarding registration, and has its principal as a person who has a minimum of 10 years experience as a chartered architect shall be registered on the Standing Register for Firms.

Notwithstanding the above, an architectural Firm which has its principal as a person a qualifying examination of any society or Institute of Architects approved by the council with a minimum of 10 years experience , and achieved at least 2 years post chartered practice experience in Ghana shall be registered on the standing register for firms.

TEMPORARY REGISTER OF FIRMS
A foreign registered architectural firm undertaking any specific local project ( with should be in association with a fully registered local firm) shall be registered on Temporary Register.                              

NB: The status of "chartered architects" as outlined in above means an architect who has passed the requisite qualifying examination ( or exemption thereof by the Council) for the practice of architecture in Ghana. 
Download an application form (PDF 2 pages,82 KB)

PROHIBITION
1. An architect whose name is on a 'Provisional' or 'Temporary Register shall not practice architecture in Ghana as a principal of an architectural firm.
2. An architect who contravenes the above sub bye-law (1) commits an act of professional misconduct and is liable to disciplinary action to be determined by the Disciplinary committee

RIGHTS OF REGISTRATION
Any registered architect
(i) shall practice as an architect to the extent allowed under the Decree and the Byelaws
(ii) with less than 10 years experience as a ' chartered architect' may practice as an individual or run a business which is not listed as a formal architectural practice.

NATIONAL BULIDING REGULATIONS, 1996(L.I. 1630)
A Building or group of buildings with an aggregate floor area in excess of 120 square metres, and of 2 STOREYS AND ABOVE in height shall be designed by an architect or any of the following professionals-
(a) a civil engineers
(b) a structural engineer
(c) a professional builder, but this description EXCLUDES a draughtsman, licensed building surveyor and a building technician with a qualification lower than the higher technician diploma,
except that A BUILDING WITH METROPOLITAN AREA SHALL BE DESIGNED BY AN ARCHITECT in consultation with a professional specified in this regulation