CSIR expert questions engineering supervision amid recurring building collapses

The Head of the Advanced Materials Science Division at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ing. Professor Mark Bediako, has questioned the effectiveness of engineering supervision and the understanding of concrete quality among professionals responsible for construction in Ghana. He says recurring building collapses highlight the need for engineers and other construction professionals to improve concrete production practices, strengthen supervision and ensure strict adherence to construction standards.

Speaking at the second edition of the Concrete Made Right training initiative, Prof. Bediako identified inadequate knowledge of concrete properties and cement selection as some of the challenges affecting the construction industry. “Sometimes even choosing the right cement is a big problem. Sometimes, too, you can see some of the district buildings failing.

These days, we record building collapses, and sometimes you ask yourself, do we have the right engineers? What are they doing?” he questioned. He said the training was intended to equip engineers and other professionals working within district assemblies with the technical knowledge needed to improve construction practices. “We are expecting that after this training, they will actually put premium on quality of concrete, quality of supervision, and then they will actually do their concrete right so that we can build the country very well,” he said.

Prof. Bediako explained that the first edition, held in February, targeted masons and artisans, with lessons delivered in local languages to make technical concepts easier to understand. The second edition focused on professionals in the built environment, particularly engineers working with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. He said the programme would be expanded into basic, intermediate and advanced training stages, covering emerging construction technologies, chemical admixtures and advanced concrete mix design.

Call for stronger professional ethics Meanwhile, Senior Lecturer and Consulting Engineer at the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Bennetta Koomson, has called for stronger ethical standards among construction professionals. She said technical knowledge alone was not enough to guarantee safe buildings, stressing that professionals must uphold construction standards even when they are not being monitored.

“Why ethics? If nobody is watching you, what are you doing?” she asked. Dr Koomson also emphasised the importance of selecting appropriate building materials and understanding the science behind concrete, describing these as essential to producing durable structures. She further advocated the use of suitable building materials to improve indoor comfort and reduce dependence on air conditioning, noting that Ghana’s tropical climate offered opportunities for more energy-efficient construction.

GHACEM highlights role of proper concrete production Commercial Director of GHACEM, Kofi Kyere, said the company’s support for the initiative was informed by the recognition that quality cement alone could not guarantee quality concrete. “You may have the best quality when it comes to cement, but you can get your concrete wrong. And when it happens like that, everybody points to the cement producers,” he said.

He explained that poor mixing practices, unsuitable aggregates and contaminated water could compromise concrete quality, regardless of the standard of cement used. Mr Kyere urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired in their respective workplaces to improve concrete mixing, reduce construction waste and achieve better building outcomes. Prof.

Bediako also called on policymakers and local government authorities to support the initiative, stressing the role of district assemblies in ensuring that building regulations are properly implemented. He said collaboration among government institutions, researchers, industry players and construction professionals was necessary to improve building standards and promote safer structures across the country.