CREATING AWARENESNESS ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION IN GHANA

Author: Anita Amoah Marry Amount of Blocks or Bricks Needed   – The block sizes used are mainly the 6-inches for construction at the foundation level and the 5-inches for the building itself, while the brick; on the other hand; being smaller in size, a number of 6 pieces would be needed to make 1 single block. This sums up to the fact that more bricks would be required than blocks in building. Taking for instance, a case of building a standard 14 by 14 feet single room in Ghana; approximately, a number of 150 bags of cement, which is equivalent to 4,500 good quality blocks are needed as against a total of 27,000 bricks for the same kind of building. Moreover, one must also not forget that an amount of sand would be needed to be mixed with the cement in producing the blocks. Cost of Fuel/Cement –  Most people believe that it may be expensive putting up a brick building because of the initial cost to be incurred as compared with the block building. In the case of brick, mor...

  Bricks house Author: Anita Amoah Mary Blocks and Bricks are both building materials, which can be used for the same purposes. However, the two have varied differences and similarities in terms of price, durability, choices, convenience, and their advantages over each other. In Ghana, the most common building material used is cement, which is employed right from the start to the finish of a construction work; i.e., in producing blocks. Conversely, brick, which is obtained from burnt clay, is not all that much patronized by builders despite the effort of the government of Ghana encouraging the use of this indigenous local material to solve the housing problem of the country. The scarcity of the usage of bricks in building projects, according to research, has led to the gradual killing of the brick industry in Ghana even though; the country is endowed with clay deposit in almost all 16 regions. The $500 million needed annually to import clinker and gypsum; the main raw materials...

Brick House      credit: Belinda Ampofo In the olden days, traditional building methods were commonly used, such as mud and thatch roofing. These methods were sustainable as they utilized locally sourced materials and were well adapted to the local climate and environment. However, with modernization and urbanization, there has been a shift towards more modern building techniques, such as concrete and steel construction. While modern building materials may offer more durability and stability, they also come with a higher environmental cost. The production of concrete, for example, is a major contributor to carbon emissions and deforestation. Additionally, modern building practices often result in the depletion of natural resources and increased waste generation. On the other hand, traditional building methods were more sustainable in terms of their environmental impact. Mud houses, for example, have a lower carbon footprint and can be easily repaired and recycled. Thatch ...

Debris at construction site                      Credit: Perez Dotse Author: Perez Dotse The improper disposal of waste materials at construction sites in Ghana is a growing environmental concern. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports a 40% increase in construction waste over the past decade, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and enforcement.   The construction sector, which has grown due to urbanization and infrastructural development, is responsible for approximately 25% of the country's total waste. The report highlights the need for comprehensive waste management strategies, including recycling and proper disposal methods.   Dr. Kwame Mensah, a senior environmental scientist at the EPA, emphasizes the need for stricter regulations, regular inspections, penalties for violations, and increased awareness and training within the industry on sustainable waste management practices. While some const...

Men at work.                      Credit: Isaac Amoako Antwi Ghana's construction industry, which contributed 14% to the country's GDP in 2023, is facing scrutiny for unsustainable practices. The industry's rapid expansion has led to deforestation, water pollution, and extensive sand mining, which are causing significant environmental costs. Between 2010 and 2020, Ghana lost over 135,000 hectares of forest cover due to construction-related activities, contributing to biodiversity loss and increased carbon emissions. The financial gains of the construction boom have led to job creation, boosted industries, and increased economic activity. However, these economic gains come with hidden costs, such as elevated pollution levels in construction zones and severe erosion and habitat destruction. Communities near construction sites are also suffering from health risks and displacement due to construction projects.    

  Building materials on site.      Credit: Perez dotse Author: Abdul Hamid Amama. In the past, construction sites were synonymous with waste and disposal. Builders would discard cement papers, broken blocks, iron rods, and other materials after completing a project. However, a remarkable transformation has taken place in recent years. Today, engineers and builders are adopting sustainable practices that prioritize waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. Instead of disposing of waste materials, they are finding innovative ways to utilize them. One engineer revealed, "We used to dispose of waste materials, but now we've adopted sustainable practices. For instance, market women purchase cement papers from us, which they use to wrap goods. Broken blocks are crushed and reused as aggregate, while iron rods are melted and recycled into new steel products." This shift towards sustainability has numerous benefits: Reduced waste in landfills, conservation of the natural resour...

Q uarry site with polluted water.            Credit: Isaac Amoako Antwi.   Author: Isaac Amoako Antwi. According to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in November 2016, an alarming number of licenses were issued for sand mining operations, leading to significant environmental degradation. The EPA's 2016 report documented that authorities had issued 112 licenses for sand mining across an area of 937.73 acres. This activity resulted in the extraction of a staggering 13,889,460 cubic meters of sand. Additionally, the report highlighted the registration of 259 quarry companies with the EPA at the time, underscoring the extensive scale of these operations. The environmental impact of these activities is becoming increasingly evident. Water bodies near mining and quarry sites are suffering from severe pollution, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of clean drinking water in Ghana. Experts warn that if the current trends con...

  An interview with Mr. Adu .  Credit: Erasmus Oppong Tetteh Author: Erasmus Oppong Tetteh. Most builders and contractors are carried away by their passion and profit they are likely to make in the building and construction industry forgetting the implications some building and construction materials have on their health. The flex of owning luxurious homes also takes our minds off the implications that comes with living in homes which have been built with materials that can cause problems for our health.   Studies from Altuma, I. M. & Ghasemlounia, R. (2021) , suggests that, 64% of global carbon pollution is attributed to energy or activity (remaining is from forestry, agriculture, or destruction); 35% is from manufacturing, 31% from buildings, and 27% from transportation. Manufacturing of construction materials consumes energy, and the building process also consumes heating, lighting, control and ventilation energy through the operation of buildings completed. In a...