Assessing Areas and Trends of Bamboo Usage in Building Construction in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana’s forest timber production area is declining in an increasing manner in both size and productivity due to unecological logging practices and over utilization of the traditional timber species. The alleviation of the problem of insufficient and extinction of the timber species allowable to the market, especially to the construction industry, has called on exploitation of other forest resources like bamboo, comparable to timber. This study sought to identify theareas and trends of bamboo usage in building construction in Ghana and its prospect of being an alternative material to timber. The study employed structured questionnaire survey of 100 medium and small scale building contractors who responded to 14 areas of bamboo usage identified through a comprehensive literature review. Data was analysed by means of relative importance index to identify the possible areas in the construction industry where bamboo is mostly used.The findings showed that props and landscaping are the two most significant areas where bamboo is used. The findings also showed that bamboo has received little attention in its usage in the areas of ladders, scaffolds, workers shed, roofing, ceiling, wall partitioning and flooring. Generally, the respondents agreed to the increase in the usage of bamboo as a construction material in the Ghanaian building industry. However, the increment is significant in the areas of props and landscaping. This study should create the required awareness of bamboo as an alternative material to timber which is dwindling in its supply to the Ghanaian building industry.

Keywords: Bamboo usage, areas, trends, building construction, Ghana