The Director of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI), Mr Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi, has advised Ghanaians to use bricks for all their building needs.
He argued that many of the old schools in Ghana built in the early 19th century were built of bricks.
According to him, many of these buildings are still in existence because it was built of bricks.
Some of these buildings have lasted for over a century, he noted.
Mr Asenso-Gyambibi made these remarks when he was speaking at the hearing of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the use of CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute's research findings in Ghana.
He further called on the government to encourage the private sector by taking the lead.
According to him, India and South Africa use bricks a lot for the building industry.
He added that maintaining brick buildings is superior to maintaining cement buildings.
“With bricks, you cut cost by not plastering,” he indicated.
He also said in 2010, a law was passed for 30 per cent of all building materials to be purchased locally but it has not worked because the government has failed to lead the way.
He revealed that Ghana spends a whopping US$300 million annually importing clinker into the country for the preparation of cement products.
He called on Ghanaians to change their attitudes towards bricks, touting that they are durable.
He further noted that BRRI has increased its network and collaboration with international organisations like John Hopkins University, and Yale among others in the United States of America (USA).
“We had made inflows for BRRI's projects and activities in the country,” he concluded.
Source: classfmonline.com
