By Bertha Demah
Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, has asserted that decarbonizing building and construction in the country remains crucial to Ghana achieving a sustainable environment.
He was speaking at the launch of the roadmap to Decarbonize the Building and Construction industry yesterday in Accra, when Dr. Hamid disclosed that in November 2023, ministry of works and housing initiated the “Transforming the Built Environment through Sustainable Materials” as part of a bold effort to address the environmental impacts of the built environment in Ghana.
“This moment marks a pivotal step in our collective effort to create a more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally responsible built environment in Ghana,” he noted.
“Today, as we launch the roadmap derived from this initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to building sustainable, resilient, and healthy communities,” he assured.
The launch of the transformative Roadmap to Decarbonize Ghana’s Building and Construction Sector, he noted, indicated government collective effort to create a more sustainable environment for Ghanaians.
Furthermore, he emphasized that urbanization and globalization has significantly influenced discussions on human settlements and development worldwide, including Ghana.
Also, “With an urban population of around 58% and an urbanization rate of 3.3% (GSS, 2020), the demand for construction materials has surged to accommodate our rapidly growing cities,” he noted.
In addition, the roadmap also outlines strategic actions aimed at minimizing the environmental footprint of the built environment through sustainable practices and materials.
Dr. Hamid, again, highlighted that the Key strategies for the roadmap includes: implementing energy-efficient systems, promoting the use of green building materials, advancing water conservation initiatives, pursuing sustainable urban planning and transportation, designing resilient structures to withstand climate change, utilizing innovative technologies and
fostering extensive stakeholder collaboration.
Dr. Prince Armah Hamid, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim, added that “roadmap is not just a document; it is a blueprint for meaningful change. It sets clear goals and identifies priority areas for intervention, with demonstration projects that signal our commitment to embedding sustainability into every phase of the building lifecycle—from design through construction to maintenance. “
He also used the opportunity to express his gratitude to UN-Habitat and UNOPs, for their collaboration and urged everyone to actively engage and collaborate to achieve the visions of transformative Roadmap to Decarbonize Ghana’s Building and Construction Sector.
“The success of this roadmap depends on the collaboration of all stakeholders—government entities, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society” he stressed.
