THE USE OF LOCAL MATERIALS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS IN GHANA: (A CASE STUDY IN CHARIA, WA MUNICIPAL)

Abstract

The global scarcity of building materials, particularly in emerging nations, necessitates significant substitutes in the construction sector. Like any other developing nation, Ghana needs creative solutions for projects involving cheap housing to balance out the country's current built environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of local building materials to produce affordable housing in Charia within the Wa Municipality. The study specifically sought to; determine the extent to which the Charia locality uses locally produced building materials, assess the perception of respondents on the use of locally produced building materials, assess/determine the effect of the use of local building materials on the rural economic of Charia, determine the relationship between educational level and the use of locally produced building materials in Charia community and to assess the relationship between income level and the choice of local building materials. The study employed a qualitative case study research design. The target population consists of locals who build houses using local materials, experts who are familiar with local building supplies, and non governmental organisations that work on rural housing. Sixty (60) people were chosen as the sample size using a convenience sampling technique, and 60 of them responded. Focus groups, on-site inspections, and interviews, with local building materials for cheap housing were used as the methods in this research. The primary instrument for gathering data were questionnaire, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that a vast majority of participants stated they purchase their building supplies locally for construction-related projects. The study further revealed that, the absence of infrastructure is strongly perceived as an extra cost that must be paid for each month by the household. Also, majority of respondents express dissatisfaction with the quality of materials obtained from various quarries or production sites. It has been shown that the kind and composition of materials used greatly influence the quality of structures. It was discovered that using native materials preserves cultural history, keeps money in the community's economy, maintains a cool environment, and is generally inexpensive. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the use of native materials promotes local communities' cultures and keeps money flowing into the local economy. The study's conclusions demonstrated that the high cost of imported building materials makes dwellings expensive. A complete strategy is needed to encourage communities to build with locally sourced materials, and it makes sense for local material producers to incorporate new technology into their production processes. It is advised that research organisations like the Forest Research Institute of Ghana and BRRI Ghana raise awareness by building structures in Ghanaian locations where local building materials are readily available, as this is the best way to replace traditional building material.