Gov’t urged to tap expertise of BBRI researchers

By Seth KRAMPAH, Fumesua A Chief Research Scientist and the Deputy Director of the Building and Road Research Institute BRRI, of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, Mr Francis Afugaar has urged government to tap the rich expertise of research scientist at the Institute. According to him, the purpose of their engagement by the government is to conduct technical auditing of road construction projects that would ensure that the projects meet the required standard as well as to protract the life span of the roads. Besides, they would also test the efficacy of road building materials contractors use in road construction and also serve as a technical regulator particularly to contractors. This he believes will make contractors sit up and not use inferior materials in their execution of contracts. “We can do cost effective physical and chemical analysis of properties and also ensure durability of cementitious materials for construction”, he stressed. With a core mandate to undertake research into all aspects of building and road planning, design, construction and maintenance with a view to assisting the construction industry to be more efficient, safe and economical, Mr Afugaar thinks that their involvement in road construction is very crucial and therefore government should include in its policy framework for road construction in the country. Mr Francis Afugaar, made these statements when the Parliamentary select committee on Environment, Science and Technology led by the Chairman, Honourable Raymond Tawiah, paid a familiarisation visit at the Institute last Saturday. The purpose of the visit was for members of the Committee to acquaint themselves with the research activities of the personnel at the institute which will enable them make informed decisions on the floor of parliament as well as formulating favourable policies that would make their research findings play an essential role particularly in the building and road industry. Mr Afugaar took Members of the Committee through a comprehensive presentation on the Institute, its profile, historical background, its vision and mission as well as the core mandate of the Institute. The vision according to the Deputy Director of the Institute is to be a commercial-oriented research and development organisation in the research industry. He told Members of the Committee about Clay Pozzolana which is a product of the Institute borne out of one of their innovative research findings. It is an innovative product which can replace up to 40% of ordinary Portland cement and reduces the price of cement by at least 18%. Clay Pozzolana improves the resistance of cement against sulphate attacks with about 4000 tonnes sold to the building industry. Pozzolana cement has greater plasticity and workability than Portland cement and reduces cracking and expansion of concrete. It is also more resistant to cracking and rain penetration with an increased resistance against chemical attacks notably sulphates and chlorides. Pozzolana cement can be used for concrete works, block making, mortar for block work, mortar for plastering, culvert production, drains and pavement blocks. Mr Afugaar after his presentation recounted some major institutional challenges confronting them as researchers. Some of the challenges he mentioned include obsolete laboratory equipment, lack of funds for research activities, highly competitive market and low level of remuneration for staff as well as the acquisition of improved machinery to transform the Pozzolana plant into commercially viable product. A member of the committee wanted to know what the Institute was doing to face the threat being posed by other companies that manufacture Portland cement. Mr Afugaar said everything possible was being done to salvage the situation of marketing threat being posed by the product. He disclosed that a plant was being put up by an American firm to increase production to get distributions at vantage points to make it much more accessible. He also appealed to government to give at least 40% of its contract works to the Institute for proper and mass utilisation of the product. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science & Technology were later taken to the production plant. The Production Manager Mr James Sarfo Ansah took members of the committee round the production plant while he explained the various stages the product go through to the final stage of the product. The Committee members were very impressed with the developments at the Institute especially with the production of the Pozzolana cement which has about 99.5% local content and expressed their readiness to give their legislative support and assured officers of the Institute a favourable debate on the floor of the House.

Mr James Sarfo Ansah, the production manager taking Members of the Committee round the various stages of the production plant of Pozzolana cement