SAM JONAH SHAKES THE TABLE: ‘OUR BUILDINGS DON’T LOOK LIKE GHANA — FIX IT!
Sir Sam Jonah, a well-known business entrepreneur, has made a request to architects in Ghana to design structures that take into consideration the local climate, culture, and resources, as well as include elements of aesthetic appeal and durability. He made a speech in front of the Ghana Institute of Architects in Cape Coast in which he encouraged architects to combine conventional design with contemporary technology, give precedence to sustainability, and avoid the use of materials that are imported as well as buildings made of homogenous concrete. Sir Sam stressed the importance of architecture’s ability to represent the ideals of society, environmental responsibility, and the requirements of the community, and he substantiated his argument by citing examples from Burkina Faso, Kenya, Japan, and China. Envisioning a constructed environment that combines utility, culture, and sustainability and generates a unique national architectural character, he urged experts to accept worldwide ideas that are suited for Ghana.
