Overview

Construction refers to the creation, repair, maintenance, alteration and demolition of buildings, highways, streets, bridges, roads, sewers, railways and communication systems. Key construction subsectors in Ghana include: 1) housing and urban development including the construction of residential buildings and municipal and commercial buildings; 2) infrastructure such as water and sanitation; and 3) transportation infrastructure such as roads, airports, ports, and harbors. The demand for construction and infrastructure development to address housing needs, upgrade roads for freight transport, and create transport corridors for exports, among other areas, remains strong.  

In Ghana, the construction sector appears to be performing well, and contributes substantially to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. For example, the demand for cement, a key indicator of construction activity continues to grow, reaching an estimated 12.5 million tons by 2021.

The approximately $8 billion Ghanaian construction sector has accounted for more than 15% of the nation’s annual GDP in recent years. The industry provides employment for approximately 420,000 people. An estimated 2,500 active building and construction contractors currently operate in the Ghanaian market. Players range from indigenous micro-enterprises and individual contractors to foreign multinational civil engineering and construction giants.

Proposed or Ongoing Projects in Ghana

• Keta Port Project (see our Market Intelligence Report)
• District and regional hospitals project West Africa Petroleum Hub - proposed
• Takoradi Gas Tank Farms
• Gas Pipelines – laying pipelines in mining areas around Tarkwa
• Ghana Trade Fairground Redevelopment
• Expansion of Secondary Schools under the Second Cycle system
• Affordable Housing
• Accra Marine Drive Tourism Project
• Tetteh Quashie Cocoa Museum
• National Cathedral
• Cape Coast Slavery Museum
• Petronia City Project
• Rail network, including several rail lines within Ghana and regional lines; a coastal line running from Nigeria through Ghana to Côte d’Ivoire; and a North-South line from Ghana to Burkina Faso

Industry Players

The construction industry in Ghana is composed of building project consultants, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, building contractors, and artisans. The Chamber of Construction Industry Ghana is responsible for promoting the activities of this industry, from advocating to helping find overseas suppliers.  Contact CS Ghana to understand the details of how contractors are classified and how this could affect your business.

Opportunities for U.S. companies

• Construction, maintenance, and services for roads and railways
• Rail upgrades and passenger rail transport on selected rail corridors
• Lake transportation systems.
• Air transport operators for domestic and sub-regional services
• Upgrading of existing trunk roads
• Affordable housing construction
• Sale of affordable and durable building materials such as fixtures and furnishings

(See the Selling to the Public Sector section for more information about tenders, bidding procedures and approaches.  Commerce Service Ghana can provide support for business activity in the public sector.)

Contact: U.S. Commercial Service Ghana Commercial Specialist PaaEkow Quansah at office.accra@trade.gov or +233 (0) 30 274 1329 for more information on this sector.

Resources

Description of 2013 Local Content Law

Statistics Related to the Construction Sector

Ghana Investment Promotion Center