Bamboo for Housing in Ghana

Housing is recognized as one of the most important infrastructural developments necessary for the economic growth of a nation However, the rising cost of housing is a problem that has beheaded many nations especially those in the developing world.  Ghana is no exception to the rising cost of housing, which is due to the persistent increase in building materials that are mostly imported . Ghana faces an acute housing deficit of one million, seven hundred thousand (1,700,0000) units, which represents an average of 13% increase for the 2011.Currently cement is produced from clinker and gypsum at an annual cost of about $80 million and that during the past decade the cost of cement has increased from GHC3.2 to GHC20.00.  The abundant nature of diverse raw materials, which can be used in the construction industry in the country cannot be over emphasized.The increased use of the available local materials will considerably reduce the import bill on building materials as well as retain capital, provide affordable housing, generate revenue to the state, provide employment for the youth and hasten infrastructural development in districts. The Govt. is seeking to ensure that by the year 2015 at least 60% of the raw materials used in the building and construction industry will be indigenous raw materials.
Bamboo is one of the locally available raw materials