Promoting Indigenous Construction Innovations for Adoption and Industry Integration in Ghana

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-970-4_39How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Indigenous construction; innovation adoption; stakeholder engagement; institutional support; construction policy; built environment

Abstract

Indigenous construction innovations in Ghana offer culturally rooted, cost-efficient, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to imported technologies. Despite this potential, uptake remains marginal. This study examines the factors that drive and hinder the adoption and integration of these technologies into the mainstream construction industry. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered to 150 industry professionals, including contractors, consultants, and regulatory officials. Perceptions were captured using a structured questionnaire across four domains: perceived quality, stakeholder awareness, institutional support, and cost-effectiveness. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and multiple regression models. Internal consistency was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. Institutional support emerged as the strongest predictor of adoption, followed by perceived quality of the product. While cost-effectiveness and stakeholder awareness were positively correlated with adoption intent, their predictive influence was weaker. Participants cited a lack of regulatory frameworks, limited technical validation, and institutional inertia as persistent obstacles. Interestingly, early-career professionals expressed greater openness to indigenous technologies than their senior counterparts, suggesting a generational shift in perception. The study focused primarily on urban stakeholders. Future research should incorporate rural practitioners and track evolving attitudes through longitudinal studies. Policy reforms targeting procurement standards, technical certification, and professional training are vital. Without institutional commitment, the potential of indigenous innovation will remain underutilised. Mainstreaming local materials and techniques could foster more inclusive, resilient, and culturally relevant built environments, critical for sustainable urban development in Ghana.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

TY  - CONF
AU  - G. S. Kportufe
AU  - M. B. Arthur-Aidoo
AU  - D. Amedegbe-Doe
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/31
TI  - Promoting Indigenous Construction Innovations for Adoption and Industry Integration in Ghana
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering, Science, and Urban Sustainability (ICESUS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 623
EP  - 638
SN  - 2352-5401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-970-4_39
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-970-4_39
ID  - Kportufe2025
ER  -