The Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) is one of the 13 Institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The BRRI, by mandate, undertakes research in all aspects of building and road with respect to planning, design, construction and maintenance to assist the construction industry perform efficiently, safely and cost-effectively. The Institute also develops construction materials from local materials to reduce construction cost and make housing affordable. The Institute’s research activities are undertaken by five technical and three non-technical divisions. The technical divisions are: Built Environment, Geotechnical and Materials Engineering, Advanced Materials Science, Geo-Informatics and Transportation Engineering. The three non-technical divisions are: Administration, Commercialization and Finance. In the execution of its mandate, the CSIR-BRRI collaborates with both local and international academic institutions and other research organisations such as Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO), CSIR-South Africa, Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) of UK, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI). During the year under review, the Institute implemented a number of activities as described below: Over 30 research and development activities were undertaken in the five major technical Divisions. Nine abstracts are presented in this report with the rest being ongoing. A Driver Testing and Assessment Centre had been proposed in this report. A new state-of-the-art Civil Engineering Laboratory was set up from internally generated funds. An 80KW Solar System, pre-financed by KATA Solar Ookimusendenki Co. Ltd. And their Japanese partners, was installed to augment the national electricity grid. The Institute undertook 24 Consultancy and Technical Services for both international and local clients such as Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Publich Health, CSIR-South Africa, Cadno. Emerging Market (UK) Ltd., Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Akroma Mining, Big Stone Mining, Sahara Mining, NRSA, GETFUND/FPMU, CHICO Ltd., Gripe (AGI), KNUST, FARA/AFAAS Multi-Donor Trust Fund, among others. Staff attended both local and International conferences where they presented scientific papers. Internal Seminars were also organised to afford Scientists the opportunity to share their ongoing research activities for peer review. There were50 Peer Reviewed Refereed Journal Papers, Edited Conference Papers, Unedited Conference Papers, Technical Reports, Approved Consultancy Reports and a Manual. The Institute has staff strength of 196 consisting of 49 Senior Members, 89 Senior Staff and 58 Junior Staff. The Senior Members, who constitute the core staff, are a multidisciplinary staff with specialties in Engineering, Architecture, Planning, Surveying, Economics, Physical and Social Sciences as well as Safety Epidemiology, Environmental Toxicology and Occupational Health and Safety. A new Director, in the person of Ing. Surv. Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi, was inducted into office in November, 2018 by the Director-General, assisted by the Chairman of CSIR-BRRI Management Board.
