BRRI AND TVET INSTITUTIONS FORGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE SKILLS TRAINING AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION.

Fumesua, Kumasi – May 6, 2025

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the Ashanti Region have formally entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen skills development, promote sustainable construction, and accelerate the adoption of local building technologies in Ghana. The collaboration was officially sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a high-level breakfast meeting held at BRRI’s Artisan Training Centre (NATC) in Fumesua. The event brought together TVET officers and principals, heads of departments, and the media to deliberate on bridging the gap between research innovation and technical training.

A Shared Vision for Skills and Innovation

In his opening address, Ing. Dr. Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi, Director of CSIR-BRRI, emphasised the importance of this partnership in the national development context:

“In the face of rising construction costs, growing youth unemployment, and the government’s renewed focus on affordable housing, it has become imperative to find sustainable, locally made solutions. This partnership with TVET institutions represents a bold step toward aligning research with real-world skills and empowering the next generation of builders.”

Dr. Asenso-Gyambibi noted BRRI’s key innovations, including burnt brick production and construction technology, Pozzolana cement, and fast-track construction systems, as critical tools to support this agenda. He highlighted BRRI’s long-standing track record of training artisans and collaborating with government agencies to scale affordable infrastructure projects.

TVET Institutions Welcoming the Collaboration

The Ashanti Regional Director of TVET Services, Ing. Richard Ado Gyamfi commended BRRI for initiating the engagement and reaffirmed TVET’s readiness to integrate modern building innovations into teaching and learning.

“We are excited about this collaboration. Our institutions must stay relevant to industry needs, and this partnership gives us direct access to innovations that are Ghana-made and globally competitive. The hands-on exposure and curriculum support from BRRI will enhance our students’ employability and entrepreneurial potential.”

Training as a Launchpad for Enterprise

Also speaking at the event, Arc.Dr. Joseph Agyei Danquah, Coordinator of BRRI’s National Artisan Training Centre (NATC), shared insights on how the collaboration will be implemented through joint training programs, faculty attachments, and youth-focused entrepreneurship.

“This partnership will not be limited to the practical training for the students but also equip facilitators with the emerging sustainable trends, conduct research together and ultimately develop curriculum in local building materials and construction for knowledge transfer to TVET institutions. Our training centre is ready to host students and instructors for practical modules in sustainable construction. With over 1,500 artisans trained already for the past decade, and more recently 250 youth in brick production with YEA, we are poised to help TVET students turn their skills into businesses and jobs.”

Dr. Danquah indicated that BRRI will work closely with each TVET institution to tailor programs based on their needs, covering areas such as modern brick making and masonry, green building materials, site management, and basic surveying and soft skills grooming.

Outcomes and Next Steps

The MOU outlines key areas of collaboration, including:

• Curriculum enhancement with BRRI technologies
• Internships and field training at BRRI facilities
• Joint research and innovation projects
• Capacity building for TVET instructors
• Collaborative pilot construction projects using local materials

The partnership is expected to roll out in phases beginning mid-2025, with an initial focus on training-of-trainers and student exposure visits.

In closing the event, all parties expressed optimism about the future of the partnership and its alignment with Ghana’s broader goals for technical education reform, youth employment, and affordable housing development.

For media inquiries or partnership discussions, please contact:

CSIR-BRRI Public Affairs Unit

📞 +233 (0)32 206 0064 | ✉ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

📞 +233244684281, NATC Coordinator

The CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) successfully held its 2025 In-House Review Workshop from 28th to 30th January 2025,  providing a platform for staff to present and critique research and projects undertaken in the previous year. The workshop, chaired by Prof. Victor Kwame Agyeman, Esq., saw the participation of key dignitaries, including Ing. Dr. Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi (Director, CSIR-BRRI), Ing. Prof. Mark Bediako (Deputy Director, CSIR-BRRI), Ing. Francis Afukaar, Prof. Bettie Solomon Ayeh, and Ing. Prof. Eugene Atiemo.

The event served as an avenue for both research and non-research staff of CSIR-BRRI to showcase the work they had done in the previous year. Each presentation was followed by engaging discussions where staff members asked questions and provided constructive feedback. Every research and project presented was subjected to critical review, allowing for the identification of strengths and areas that required improvement. This rigorous assessment aimed to refine methodologies, correct mistakes, and enhance the quality of work to ensure a greater impact in the coming year.

Throughout the three-day event, participants explored innovative research and solutions addressing Building and Road Industry challenges. The workshop fostered knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and a culture of continuous learning. On the final day, the Director-General of CSIR, Prof. Paul Pinnock Bosu, made a special visit to commend CSIR-BRRI for its dedication to research excellence and innovation. He applauded the Institute’s commitment to advancing infrastructure research and encouraged the team to build on the feedback received to improve future outputs.

As the 2025 In-House Review Workshop concludes, CSIR-BRRI remains committed to enhancing research quality and ensuring that findings translate into real-world applications. The lessons learned and feedback received will serve as a foundation for a more productive and impactful year ahead.

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, staff of the CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) gathered for the annual Committal and Thanksgiving Service. This cherished tradition offered a moment of reflection on the past year’s achievements and challenges, an opportunity to give thanks, and a time to seek renewed strength and guidance for the year ahead.

The service emphasized unity, gratitude, and a commitment to advancing the Institute’s mission of innovative research and development. It was a heartfelt occasion that left participants inspired and ready to make 2025 a year of greater impact and excellence.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) has proudly graduated participants from its specialized training programs: Fundamentals in Surveying and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and a 2-Week Course in Adobe and Burnt Bricks Wall Construction. The graduation ceremony marked the culmination of intensive, hands-on training sessions held from October 21 to November 1, 2024, at the CSIR-BRRI Training Centre in Fumesua, Kumasi.

The GIS course covered ten comprehensive modules, including Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis, GPS Surveying, and Data Management in GIS. Participants gained practical experience using tools like ArcGIS, enhancing their capabilities in mapping, environmental management, and data visualization.

Simultaneously, the Brick Construction course focused on brick production, bricklaying techniques, and masonry skills. Trainees mastered working with adobe bricks, sandcrete blocks, and concrete products while learning key masonry techniques such as brick bonding, pointing, and interpreting architectural drawings. Safety protocols and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were also emphasized.

In his keynote address, the Director, Ing. Dr. Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi highlighted the importance of technical skills in national development. “This graduation is not just a ceremony; it’s a celebration of the potential unlocked within each of you. The knowledge you’ve gained here is a foundation for building successful careers and contributing meaningfully to Ghana’s construction and technological sectors,” he stated.

Graduates expressed gratitude to CSIR-BRRI for the opportunity, with many sharing testimonials about how the training has transformed their professional outlook. The event concluded with certificate presentations, recognizing the hard work and dedication of all participants.

CSIR-BRRI remains committed to empowering individuals through innovative training programs that address critical skills gaps in Ghana’s workforce.

The CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI), in collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has launched the Youth in Brick Production and Construction Module. This transformative program will train 21,000 Ghanaian youth, equipping them with specialised burnt brick production and construction skills to boost job creation and support national development.

Speaking at the launch in Kumasi, YEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, highlighted the program as part of YEA’s broader ambition to tackle youth unemployment through skills development. He emphasised that the initiative is designed not just to create jobs but to bridge the skills gap in the construction industry, where a lack of modern artisanal expertise has often led to reliance on foreign labour.

The newly appointed Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Professor Paul Pinnock Bosu visited the Building and Road Research Institute on the 23^rd of May, 2022.

The CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) hosted the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on Wednesday, 22^nd September, 2021. As a committee with the oversight responsibility of agencies under the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), there was the need to undertake this all-important visit in order to apprise members with the activities of CSIR Institutes so as to enable them both justify and defend the annual budget appropriations Council for Scientific and Industrial Research presents in Parliament.

On the 11^thMay,2021, The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, visited the CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute. The visit was part of his tour to the various Institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to ascertain the activities of all thirteen Institutes as well as know how best the Ministry could help boost research and development activities.

As a measure by the Ministry of Works and Housing to promote the use of local building products and materials in the country, the Minister of Works and Housing, Hon. Asenso-Boakye visited the CSIR- Building, and Road Research Institute on 5^th May 2021. His visit was to inspect the Pozzolana and Brick factories owned by the Institute and see how best Government could help boost production of these factories to help the Institute produce in large commercial quantities to accomplish the dream of using local building materials.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Ghana (CSIR-Ghana) has presented the first-place award to the CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute for being the highest-earning Institute, as well as the most commercially oriented Institute for the year 2020 in the CSIR. The awards ceremony was held at the CSIR- Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) premises on 16^th December, 2020. Other Institutes that received awards were the Oil Palm Research Institute, OPRI, (Second-place award), and the Crops Research Institute, CRI, (Third-place award).