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.