Types of construction in Ghana
Residential Construction
Building houses, apartments, and villas for private ownership or rental. The largest construction sector in Greater Accra by volume. Cornerstone specialises in residential construction from 2–5 bedrooms.
Commercial Construction
Offices, retail units, warehouses, hotels, and mixed-use buildings. Requires specialist MEP coordination and commercial-grade specification.
Civil and Infrastructure
Roads, bridges, drainage, utilities, and public infrastructure. Typically government-procured through competitive tender under the PPA framework.
Industrial Construction
Factories, processing plants, power infrastructure. Specialised engineering requirements and heavy structural loads.
Renovation and Fit-Out
Upgrading, extending, or refurbishing existing buildings. Growing sector in Accra as older building stock reaches renovation age.
Specialist Construction
Foundations, waterproofing, roofing, electrical, plumbing — specialist trade contractors who carry out specific elements within a larger project.
The construction process in Ghana — stage by stage
| Stage | Key Activities | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-construction | Land documentation, soil investigation, design, permits | 2–6 months |
| Substructure | Foundation, ground beam, DPC, ground slab | 4–8 weeks |
| Superstructure | Block work, columns, ring beam, roof structure | 6–12 weeks |
| Weathertight shell | Roofing, windows, external doors | 3–5 weeks |
| Mechanical and electrical | Plumbing rough-in, electrical conduit and wiring | 3–5 weeks |
| Finishes | Plastering, tiling, painting, fixtures, joinery | 8–16 weeks |
| Handover | Snagging, testing, clean, keys | 1 week |
Key roles in Ghana construction
- Client — the owner who commissions and funds the build
- ARB-registered architect — produces architectural drawings; required for building permit applications in Ghana
- Structural engineer (GhIE member) — designs the foundation, columns, beams, and slab; produces structural drawings
- Quantity surveyor (GhIS member) — prepares the Bill of Quantities, manages tendering, controls costs
- General contractor — the company that manages and builds the project; coordinates all trade contractors
- Trade contractors — specialist subcontractors: mason, electrician, plumber, carpenter, tiler, painter
- LUSPA / District Assembly — government body that issues building permits
For more detail on building a house in Ghana: Build a house in Ghana — complete guide →