The Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Prof.
Alex Dodoo, has warned that poor technical knowledge and the use of substandard materials in informal construction pose a major threat to public safety.He noted that while many Ghanaians invest heavily in building homes, they often relied on untrained workers who did not understand how to properly use critical materials such as cement, concrete, iron rods, and paint-resulting in weak and unsafe structures.He made these remarks at the Symposium on Science-Based Innovation for Robust Construction Materials in Ghana, held in Accra on Thursday.
The event aimed to strengthen international collaboration in improving standards and testing through science and innovation.It was organised by the GSA in partnership with the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN).Other partners included the German Institute for Construction Technology (DIBt), the National Metrology Institute (PTB), the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK), and the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.As part of efforts to bridge the knowledge gap, the GSA launched a new construction guidebook titled Handbook for Safe and Smart Durable Construction in Ghana, aimed at educating informal builders.
The free handbook provides practical guidance on safe material usage and construction practices."We developed this tool to empower those in the informal sector.
