The GIA is a professional Association like the Ghana Bar Association or the Ghana medical Association. These are associations or ‘clubs’ of similar professionals with their own constitutions, bylaws and regulations, are self-finding, elect their own officers and run their affairs and secretariats. They can be ‘pressure groups’ and strictly speaking independent of Government.

The ARC on the other hand is set up by Government through law (the 1969 Architects Decree) to regulate the architectural profession on its behalf. It is funded by Government subvention and under the Ministry of Works and housing. The GIA however directly nominates 6 of the 10-member ARC.