Housing Minister instructs heads of SOEs to implement policy on local raw materials

The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye has formally written to some heads of state institutions and colleague ministers, instructing them to begin the implementation of government’s policy on building with local raw materials. 

This he believes will boost job opportunities for many Ghanaians and also drive down the cost of building in the country.

The Minister disclosed this to Journalists after inspecting works of Nelplast Limited, manufacturers of plastic bricks for building.

Nelplast Ghana Limited will be among many Ghanaian innovators to benefit from the policy of using local materials for construction.

The company generates bricks from recycled plastic waste, a process which makes the materials cheaper as compared with the traditional methods of building.

The Minister for Works and Housing assured government’s support to help bridge the housing gap.

“I have had the opportunity to engage the Minister for Education and actually written to him formally and he has incorporated the use of local burnt bricks into the government schools that are going to be built. I have done same with the Minister for Health so that the hospitals, clinics and other health facilities can have these local materials.”

Mr. Asenso-Boakye said government is committed to using this path to ensure that there are adequate jobs in the sector and also affordable construction, so that every average Ghanaian can be able to acquire a home for living.

Founder of Nelplast Limited, Nelson Boateng after taking the minister and his delegation on a tour requested to be given some of the affordable housing projects as government support for his business.

“All that we are asking for is government to award us some affordable housing projects so that we can work and change the face of this company” Nelson Boateng told the team. The manufacturing project is providing employment to more than 300 artisans.