An Analysis of Construction Material Batching Behaviour of Artisans in Ghana’s Informal Construction Sector. (Published)
This study investigated construction materials-batching behaviour of artisans in the Ghana informal construction sector. The research was conducted in three major townships across three districts namely: Mepe/Battor in the Volta Region, Pokuase in the Eastern Region and Nsawam in the Eastern Region of Ghana. To achieve the study objectives, a quantitative data collection approach was adopted as the primary methodology for gathering data from the target population using cluster-sampling technique to select the sample population. The results showed that the Ghana informal construction sector paid scanty attention to the standard practices and procedures for constructing residential buildings. Reasons included inadequate levels of apprenticeship training to grow the skills and competence of artisans. Low-quality training duped apprentices into thinking that they were fully qualified when in reality they were not. Not only that, apprenticeship varied widely across construction trades and master craftsmen. Batching was generally eyeballed instead of being measured scientifically resulting in insufficient cement to aggregate ratio in cement blocks, concrete and mortar works. Also, cement and aggregate mixtures had high percentage of water. Weak cement blocks resulted in poor construction and weak buildings with rising moisture content in walls, leaking roofs, cracks and structural failure.
Keywords: Artisans, Batching, Construction Material, Informal Construction