Ghana Recycled Plastic Houses -- WEB
Metadata
- Ghana Recycled Plastic Houses -- WEB
- February 22, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English Ghana Recycled Plastic Houses (TV) HEADLINE: Ghanaian Entrepreneur Builds Affordable Houses from Recycled Plastics TEASER: PUBLISHED AT: 02/21/2022 at 8:10am BYLINE: Senanu Tord CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Accra, Ghana VIDEOGRAPHER: Senanu Tord VIDEO EDITOR: Tord, Kimberlyn Weeks PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, BR VIDEO SOURCE(S): All VOA PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X TRT: 3:39 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE:)) ((INTRO)) [[Ghana's rapid urbanization is producing more waste while fueling a boom in luxury housing that the average Ghanaian cannot afford. One entrepreneur may have the answer to both problems - producing inexpensive houses made from recycled plastic. Senanu Tord reports from Ghana's capital, Accra.]] ((NARRATOR)) The real estate market is booming in Accra. Luxury communities continue to spring up in prime locations across the Ghanian capital. Realtors say the boom in luxury properties is fueled by the changing demography and growing economic activities in the capital. ((Maurice Aouad, Property Broker (English, 24 secs)) “I think it started off from the oil sector in the late 2000s when Ghana discovered oil. I would like to believe that there was almost like a gold rush to Ghana at the time, so a lot of developers decided this is the best time to position themselves. So, they capitalized on that by getting multiple acquisitions and started investing it.” ((NARRATOR)) Ghana’s growing economy is driving up migration to its cities, where many Ghanaians find themselves competing for decent and affordable accommodation. The 2021 population census revealed that Ghana needs about two million additional housing units to completely accommodate its 30.8 million people. ((Samuel Amegayibor, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (English, 17 secs)) “The deficit that we are talking about is in the medium to lower income bracket, and we don’t seem to be doing well in that area. The average estate developer is unable to meet the price point for this category of people.” ((NARRATOR)) But whether people are living in luxury or affordable housing, they are also finding themselves facing a common problem: plastic pollution driven by population growth. But plastic houses may be a possible solution to both problems. Nelson Boateng is building houses made of bricks made of recycled plastics and is doing so at a fraction of the cost of concrete buildings. His one-bedroom apartment costs 11,000 U.S. dollars and was made with 13,400 kilograms of plastic waste. ((Nelson Boateng, Nelplast ) (English, 25 secs)) “We advanced in producing plastic Lego bricks to build affordable housing for the very low-income Ghanaian. Not because it is very cheap, the durability is less. It is stronger than the normal concrete bricks that we have because these bricks can withstand waterlogged areas; it can withstand earthquakes and it doesn’t burn.” ((NARRATOR)) Nelson mixes shredded plastic waste materials with sand under high temperatures to mold the inexpensive building bricks. The bricks have worked well for one-story buildings. But to lower costs and accommodate more people, he must find a way to build high-rise buildings. ((Nelson Boateng, Nelplast ) (English, 11 secs)) “So, we thought of, ‘Why don’t we develop a different pillar corner bolt that can carry two three stories?’ So that is what we are working on now.” ((NARRATOR)) The Ghana Standards Authority says tests show Nelson’s building blocks meet quality standards. (Emmanuel Adjetey Adjei, Ghana Standards Authority) (English, 18 secs))
- Transcript/Script Ghana Recycled Plastic Houses (TV) HEADLINE: Ghanaian Entrepreneur Builds Affordable Houses from Recycled Plastics TEASER: PUBLISHED AT: 02/21/2022 at 8:10am BYLINE: Senanu Tord CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Accra, Ghana VIDEOGRAPHER: Senanu Tord VIDEO EDITOR: Tord, Kimberlyn Weeks PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, BR VIDEO SOURCE(S): All VOA PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X TRT: 3:39 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE:)) ((INTRO)) [[Ghana's rapid urbanization is producing more waste while fueling a boom in luxury housing that the average Ghanaian cannot afford. One entrepreneur may have the answer to both problems - producing inexpensive houses made from recycled plastic. Senanu Tord reports from Ghana's capital, Accra.]] ((NARRATOR)) The real estate market is booming in Accra. Luxury communities continue to spring up in prime locations across the Ghanian capital. Realtors say the boom in luxury properties is fueled by the changing demography and growing economic activities in the capital. ((Maurice Aouad, Property Broker (English, 24 secs)) “I think it started off from the oil sector in the late 2000s when Ghana discovered oil. I would like to believe that there was almost like a gold rush to Ghana at the time, so a lot of developers decided this is the best time to position themselves. So, they capitalized on that by getting multiple acquisitions and started investing it.” ((NARRATOR)) Ghana’s growing economy is driving up migration to its cities, where many Ghanaians find themselves competing for decent and affordable accommodation. The 2021 population census revealed that Ghana needs about two million additional housing units to completely accommodate its 30.8 million people. ((Samuel Amegayibor, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (English, 17 secs)) “The deficit that we are talking about is in the medium to lower income bracket, and we don’t seem to be doing well in that area. The average estate developer is unable to meet the price point for this category of people.” ((NARRATOR)) But whether people are living in luxury or affordable housing, they are also finding themselves facing a common problem: plastic pollution driven by population growth. But plastic houses may be a possible solution to both problems. Nelson Boateng is building houses made of bricks made of recycled plastics and is doing so at a fraction of the cost of concrete buildings. His one-bedroom apartment costs 11,000 U.S. dollars and was made with 13,400 kilograms of plastic waste. ((Nelson Boateng, Nelplast ) (English, 25 secs)) “We advanced in producing plastic Lego bricks to build affordable housing for the very low-income Ghanaian. Not because it is very cheap, the durability is less. It is stronger than the normal concrete bricks that we have because these bricks can withstand waterlogged areas; it can withstand earthquakes and it doesn’t burn.” ((NARRATOR)) Nelson mixes shredded plastic waste materials with sand under high temperatures to mold the inexpensive building bricks. The bricks have worked well for one-story buildings. But to lower costs and accommodate more people, he must find a way to build high-rise buildings. ((Nelson Boateng, Nelplast ) (English, 11 secs)) “So, we thought of, ‘Why don’t we develop a different pillar corner bolt that can carry two three stories?’ So that is what we are working on now.” ((NARRATOR)) The Ghana Standards Authority says tests show Nelson’s building blocks meet quality standards. (Emmanuel Adjetey Adjei, Ghana Standards Authority) (English, 18 secs)) “It passed the compression strength just as the ordinary sandcrete blocks also pass. So, the product is of good quality, and it can serve the same purpose as the traditional product.” ((NARRATOR)) Nelson hopes his homes made from plastic waste will catch on with the Ghanaian public. ((Senanu Tord, for VOA News, Accra, Ghana))
- NewsML Media Topics Politics, Economy, Business and Finance
- Topic Tags Ghana Plastic Houses
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date February 22, 2022 15:10 EST
- Description English Ghana Recycled Plastic Houses (TV) HEADLINE: Ghanaian Entrepreneur Builds Affordable Houses from Recycled Plastics TEASER: PUBLISHED AT: 02/21/2022 at 8:10am BYLINE: Senanu Tord CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Accra, Ghana VIDEOGRAPHER: Senanu Tord VIDEO EDITOR: Tord, Kimberlyn Weeks PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, BR VIDEO SOURCE(S): All VOA PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X TRT: 3:39 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE:)) ((INTRO)) [[Ghana's rapid urbanization is producing more waste while fueling a boom in luxury housing that the average Ghanaian cannot afford. One entrepreneur may have the answer to both problems - producing inexpensive houses made from recycled plastic. Senanu Tord reports from Ghana's capital, Accra.]] ((NARRATOR)) The real estate market is booming in Accra. Luxury communities continue to spring up in prime locations across the Ghanian capital. Realtors say the boom in luxury properties is fueled by the changing demography and growing economic activities in the capital. ((Maurice Aouad, Property Broker (English, 24 secs)) “I think it started off from the oil sector in the late 2000s when Ghana discovered oil. I would like to believe that there was almost like a gold rush to Ghana at the time, so a lot of developers decided this is the best time to position themselves. So, they capitalized on that by getting multiple acquisitions and started investing it.” ((NARRATOR)) Ghana’s growing economy is driving up migration to its cities, where many Ghanaians find themselves competing for decent and affordable accommodation. The 2021 population census revealed that Ghana needs about two million additional housing units to completely accommodate its 30.8 million people. ((Samuel Amegayibor, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (English, 17 secs)) “The deficit that we are talking about is in the medium to lower income bracket, and we don’t seem to be doing well in that area. The average estate developer is unable to meet the price point for this category of people.” ((NARRATOR)) But whether people are living in luxury or affordable housing, they are also finding themselves facing a common problem: plastic pollution driven by population growth. But plastic houses may be a possible solution to both problems. Nelson Boateng is building houses made of bricks made of recycled plastics and is doing so at a fraction of the cost of concrete buildings. His one-bedroom apartment costs 11,000 U.S. dollars and was made with 13,400 kilograms of plastic waste. ((Nelson Boateng, Nelplast ) (English, 25 secs)) “We advanced in producing plastic Lego bricks to build affordable housing for the very low-income Ghanaian. Not because it is very cheap, the durability is less. It is stronger than the normal concrete bricks that we have because these bricks can withstand waterlogged areas; it can withstand earthquakes and it doesn’t burn.” ((NARRATOR)) Nelson mixes shredded plastic waste materials with sand under high temperatures to mold the inexpensive building bricks. The bricks have worked well for one-story buildings. But to lower costs and accommodate more people, he must find a way to build high-rise buildings. ((Nelson Boateng, Nelplast ) (English, 11 secs)) “So, we thought of, ‘Why don’t we develop a different pillar corner bolt that can carry two three stories?’ So that is what we are working on now.” ((NARRATOR)) The Ghana Standards Authority says tests show Nelson’s building blocks meet quality standards. (Emmanuel Adjetey Adjei, Ghana Standards Authority) (English, 18 secs)) “It passed the compression strength just as the ordinary sandcrete blocks also pass. So, the product is of good quality, and it can serve the same purpose as the traditional product.” ((NARRATOR)) Nelson hopes his homes made from plastic waste will catch on with the Ghanaian public. ((Senanu Tord, for VOA News, Accra, Ghana))
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English