The early beginning of the formal Ghanaian Construction Industry (GCI) is reflection of Ghana’s historical link with Britain. … The rectangular buildings were often found in Southern Ghana whilst the circular shelters were common in the Northern parts.

Abstract: The Sub-Saharan African country of Ghana is growing at a rapid pace. The
construction industry is striving to keep up with the increasing demand for housing and
commercial and industrial space while simultaneously protecting the physical environment
and social well-being of the country – a challenge becoming known in the industry as
‘sustainable construction.’ This paper proposes a strategic approach to manage these twin
challenges, consisting of two parts: a building rating system and a participatory method
called multi-stakeholder dialogue. The combination rating system and MSD process was
presented to the industry to determine its potential effectiveness in assisting the industry to
move towards sustainability. The industry’s response indicates that the proposal could be of
value to the industry, with certain noted limitations. This paper describes the rating system
proposal, the industry’s response, and implications for the construction industry in
Ghana moving forward
Keywords: Ghana, Construction, Sustainability, Sustainable construction, Green
Building-Rating tool, Template for Sustainable Product Development, multi-stakeholder
dialogue

Introduction

Architecture in the Gold Coast, now Ghana, from the historic past, comprises of traditional buildings of various designs and construction on one hand, and on the other hand by European, Asian, and Middle East typologies, such as castles, forts, roads, railways, churches, schools, hospitals, residential buildings, et cetera. Colonization of the country (1843) accelerated the physical development of the country. For example, the construction of the Takoradi Harbor, Achimota School, and the Korle-Bu hospital by Governor Guggisberg, a surveyor, marks a significant watershed in the country’s socio-economic development. Expatriate Engineers and Artisans dominated the construction industry especially following the establishment of the Public Works Department (P.W.D.). As the agitation for independence gathered pace, the British decided to expand schools and colleges to produce the anticipated expertise to run the affairs of a free country. New secondary schools and colleges were built and old ones refurbished and expanded. The need for architects and engineers increased and scholarships were awarded to deserving students to pursue courses in Europe and America most of who returned back to Ghana to take up positions in the public and private sectors.

The missionaries were not left out in the rapid expansion of schools and colleges. The Presbyterians, the Methodists, and the Catholics have been traditional partners in development throughout the history of the country. They built and managed a wide number of secondary schools and recent private universities in the country.

History of Gold Mining in Ghana. Ghana has a long history of mining, especially for gold. … In 1895, Ashanti Goldfields Corporation began work in the Obuasi district of Ghana, developing the Ashanti and other mines, which have produced the largest proportion of gold since 1900 in the countries of the Gold Coast.

Ghana has a long history of mining, especially for gold. Gold from West Africa was traded to Europe at least as early as the tenth century. Most of this gold came by Sahara caravan, the original sources being the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. In the early colonial time, it is thought that annually more than a quarter of a million ounces of gold reached Europe from African sources. Based mainly on native workings, numerous gold deposits, both bedrock and placer, were rediscovered during the latter part of the nineteenth century throughout Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, and the other nations of the Gold Coast.
The Precambrian auriferous Tarkwa conglomerates of Ghana were developed in a modern way during the period 1876-1882 by Pierre Bonnat, the father of modern gold mining in the Gold Coast. In 1895, Ashanti Goldfields Corporation began work in the Obuasi district of Ghana, developing the Ashanti and other mines, which have produced the largest proportion of gold since 1900 in the countries of the Gold Coast. All of these deposits are of Precambrian age.
At the Obuasi mine, over the years, 25 million ounces of gold were mined. At Bogoso, since mining operations commenced in 1873, more than nine million ounces of gold were produced, largely from extensive underground operations.

GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS INFORMATION:
Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. It is present in the rivers, seas, and the earth’s crust and trace amounts are present in plants and animals. It is, however, difficult and expensive to extract. In modern mining operations approximately 3 tons of ore are needed to extract one ounce of gold. The many desirable qualities found in gold, along with its scarcity, have made it the most popular metal for use in jewellery today.

PROPERTIES OF GOLD
Gold in its pure state:
· Has a melting point of 1945 degrees Fahrenheit (1063 degrees Celsius). When alloyed (chemically combined) with other base metals the melting temperature of the resulting alloy is changed. 18K yellow gold has a melting point of 1675 degrees Fahrenheit and 14K yellow gold has a melting point of about 1550 degrees Fahrenheit.

· Has a specific gravity of 19.33. It is relatively heavy compared to most metals, such as silver (SG 10.7) or iron (SG 7.8). A notable exception is platinum (SG 21.4).

· Is more malleable than any other metal and can be hammered into foil so thin that it is almost transparent.

· Has a unique ductility property allowing it to be drawn into wire so fine it can barely be seen.

· Is deep yellow in color. Its great reflectivity properties help keep its brightness and color from fading with time.

· Will not rust, tarnish or corrode. Gold jewellery recovered from ancient Egyptian tombs is in the same state as when placed there over 4000 years ago.

· Is softer than most other metals. On the Mohs scale of hardness (which is a measure of a gemstone or mineral’s resistance to scratching), gold has a hardness value of 2 to 2.5. Diamond has a value of 10. Pure gold may easily be scratched. Fortunately, gold becomes harder when alloyed with other base metals.

· Is relatively scarce and therefore expensive. It is estimated that only 125,000 tons of gold have been mined the world over since the beginning of time.

· Is able to bond with other base metals. This property gives rise to the many different colors available in modern gold alloys.