PATRONIZE CREDIBLE AND CHEAPER LOCALLY-AVAILABLE BUILDING MATERIALS― ENGR. ATTA-SONNO

This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IETGh) has taken place in Accra.

The theme for the meeting was The Engineer―A catalyst for the successful implementation of the Engineering Regulations.

The occasion was also used to induct about 50 new members into the engineering institution.

Addressing participants, Engr. Eric Atta-Sonno, President, IETGh, urged Ghanaians to stop patronizing conventional building materials at the expense of credible and cheaper locally-available substitutes or alternatives.

Engr. Atta-Sonno noted that currently, the unavailability of urban unencumbered land, rising cost of urban land, design of houses (economic utilisation of spaces for optimum functionality, lack of municipal services and public infrastructure, high cost of housing financing, absence of national policy direction and the non-utilisation of locally-available building materials had been identified as the challenges to the provision of affordable housing.

He said 70% of the cost of housing went into materials and labour, while 90% of the materials were imported from abroad.

However, he said, research had proven that the use of locally-available building materials could lead to the driving down the cost of house construction; the creation of new job opportunities along the housing value chain for artisans, technicians and businesses in the sale of local materials, among others, and the bridging of the housing deficit within the shortest possible time.

Engr. Atta-Sonno cited examples of different types of buildings in Ghana―the Nandom Catholic Church; Methodist Church in Palladium, Accra; Ashesi University, Presbyterian Church in Larteh; Wooden Bungalows in University of Cape Coast; Ghana Christian International High School; and the Rhabshold Ltd. Estate Houses in Ashongman, Accra― that had been constructed using locally-available building materials.

He added that Regulation 29 and Schedules 3 of the National Building Regulation, 1996 (LI 1630) made room for the utilization of locally-available building materials such as Stabilized Earth Blocks, consisting of pozzolana cement, natural stone, brick and tile, bituminous materials, timber (wood) and bamboo.

He, therefore, challenged engineering practitioners to champion the cause of promoting the usage of locally-available building materials.

Engr. Atta-Sonno reminded engineering practitioners of their roles in the promotion of locally-available building materials.

These, he said, included the dentification and characterization of locally-available raw materials; dissemination of production technology; promotion of  the use of basic equipment, implements and tools; stimulating community participation and self-help principles in house construction; provision of corrective measures in the utilisation of improved earth blocks; improving the working of concrete and binding agents; helping to address the issue of right storage of building materials; and ensuring that the required policies and implementation roll-out were in place.

IETGh is a Professional Body, first registered as the Ghana Institution of Technician Engineers under the Professional Bodies Registration Decree (NRCD 143) 1973 on the 30th of May, 1986.

The Institution later rebranded to the ‘Institution of Incorporated Engineers’ on the 27th of August, 1996 and then to the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana to conform to global trends in the engineering profession.

IETGh derives its membership from the Mechanical, Civil, Automotive, Marine, Aviation, Electrical, Electronics, Chemical, Construction, Building and Allied engineering professions, and is mandated by law to register Professional Engineers, Professional Engineering Technologists, Engineering Technicians and Craftsmen.

Currently, the two engineering professional bodies licensing engineering practitioners in Ghana are IETGh and the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) which together form the Engineering Council under the Engineering Council Act, 2011 (Act 819).

Source: G.D. Zaney, Esq.

Eric Atta-Sonno

My dear friend,

“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.” – George Bernard Shaw

Over the last couple of years, I’ve dedicated a bit of my time to join the struggle of helping to raise the younger generation. This has been to ensure that they are well positioned to take over the reins of this country and improve on its lot.

Being a committed Christian, I have for the better part of my adult life been inspired by the philosophy, ‘Omnibus Omnia Factus Sum’, a Latin phrase adopted from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians 9:22 where he wrote that he became all things to all men that he might save some by all means.

I have therefore, utilized all manner of approaches to help influence positive change in the attitude and orientation of our people for the overall purpose of nation building. To this, I welcome you to my blog. Enjoy my take on issues espoused through the scripts as well as my brief thoughts on issues as they play out daily and news stories on various endeavors that I may play a part in.

Feed back is always critical for improvement and I would thus appeal to you to always leave a note after reading any piece on this blog.

Welcome and enjoy browsing the pages.

Eric Atta-Sonno