110 Masons, field supervisors undergo training in proper concrete making
A three-day intensive training workshop has been organised for 110 masons and field supervisors at Fumesua in the Ejisu Municipality in the Ashanti Region.
Dubbed “Concrete made right”, the training came about through a collaboration between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) and GHACEM.
Conducted at the CSIR-BRRI premises under a structured three-tier approach, namely basic, intermediate and advanced, it exposed the participants to the best practices in the use of concrete to enhance their delivery.
They were taken through several sessions, including understanding cement and concrete, choosing good building materials, concrete mixing practices, placing and compacting, curing concrete and safety on site, among others.
Quality cement
In a speech read on his behalf by the Director, Product and Business Development, GHACEM, Francis Dabanka, the Managing Director, GHACEM, Dr Frank Huber, noted that the various levels of the training would progressively build the technical capacity of the beneficiaries across the construction value chain, saying: “The basic level serves as a foundation, addressing site practices that significantly influence the quality and longevity of concrete”.
“Quality cement and right concrete application translate into quality buildings that save lives. It protects investments and also strengthens our nation’s reputation,” he said, and added that GHACEM remained committed to supporting education, training and professional development within the industry.
While urging the participants to fully apply the knowledge gained at their project sites, he reiterated GHACEM’s firm belief that strong collaboration among manufacturers, research institutions and practitioners was essential towards raising construction standards in the country.
Wrong practices
The Director, CSIR-BRRI, Dr Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi, said if cement is not rightly applied in the preparation of concrete, it would be a drain in the construction industry and its attendant consequences.
“It is important for artisans to be trained on the appropriate use of concrete to achieve optimum results towards helping the government to achieve its vision through the Big Push agenda, with greater efficiency, cost-effectiveness and safety,” he said.
He underscored the importance of training the middle-level artisans to be able to use concrete wisely and effectively, saying, “Lack of training for such artisans will cost us as a nation”.
“We have come together to give the requisite training to our construction professionals to be able to execute their work efficiently and cost-effectively to put an end to the collapse of buildings,” he stated.
The Convenor of the training, Professor Mark Bediako, said wrong practices had been normalised within the sector and that the training was intended to right the wrongs towards improving the industry.
Participants speak
One of the participants, Carin Awoenam Fianu, an architect at the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT), welcomed the intervention as it would expose her to best practices that would positively impact the execution of development projects.
Another participant, Mark Amofa Frimpong, Alpha Construction Services, said the training provided them an opportunity to acquire top-up knowledge to apply in the profession.
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