INTERVIEW WITH AFUA BONI

           CSIR-BRRI ENCOURAGES THE UTLISATION OF ADVANCED MATERIALS

• The high-rate population growth across the world and its implication in the subsequent years to come
• The need to employ CSIR-BRRI materials to boost national development.

BY MATILDA MENSAH

The Building and Road Research Institute of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has drummed the importance of utilizing clay Pozzolana and Burnt clay bricks in the construction industry to boost Ghana’s national development.

Currently, the world population is estimated around seven (7) billion and it is growing progressively every year. In which, the United Nations has predicted that, by 2050, there will be an addition of 3 billion people to add up to the current value. Due to this population growth, there is evidence that unstoppable consumption of finite resources such as limestone for cement production, aggregates for concrete and mortar for human consumption and satisfaction will occur.

Furthermore, the Ghanaian economy which is not an exception and also expanding annually due to this population growth, coupled with Urbanization will thus, need the government to embark on many infrastructural developments. Which includes: road construction, railway development, as well as affordable housing for its citizens.

However, there is limited supply of some of these essential construction materials, contributed to high cost of infrastructure delivery in the country. For instance, limestone which is used to produce cement is not available in Ghana. This therefore, make developers depend on imports from cement dealers making the price in Ghana increased of about two folds. Moreover, aggregates such as sand and chippings are gradually going into extinction and if care is not taken, in the not-too-distant future, the country will struggle to get these finite resources for construction.

Aside that, CSIR-BRRI has successfully constructed many buildings of about five (5) scattered across the country. An example, is in the Ashanti region where they form the partnership with the Traditional Authority Project (PPTAP) leading to the construction of the six (6) bedroom teachers’ apartment quarters at Nobewam, Ejisu-Juabeng District in the Ashanti region with the usage of these two materials. Namely; the Burnt Clay Bricks and the Pozzolana cement.

Where, with the pozzolana cement, the institute used the material as mortar to bond the burnt clay bricks under a project called the Takoradi Thermal Power Station for the Aboadze thermal plant in Takoradi. This became operational in 1997 and inaugurated on 15^th October, 2000 under former President Jerry Rawlings reign. It also became the first fossil fuel power station operated by the Volta River Authority.

Again, the Ghana Electricity Company office at Oduom and Afia Kobi market in Kumasi were all totally built with pozzolana cement. The Silicon hotel in Kentinkrono, near the KNUST police station and the Ejisu model school project are also projects that were developed using this burnt clay bricks.

Therefore, Ghana infrastructure and housing development will reduce cost and do more if the nation consciously focuses and utilizes the CSIR-BRRI locally based produced materials like the pozzolana cement and burnt clay bricks. Hence, the national development will meet its apex if Ghana urgently brings on board innovative measures that will counter this menace.