The Ghana Build Price Board is a living reference for 2026 Greater Accra construction rates. It includes cement, steel, sand, blocks, day-rates, and squ…
Reading level: the low end of every range is bargaining-rate or project-scale; the high end is delivered or retail. Prices move — the last refreshed date is at the bottom of the page.
Ghana construction material prices 2026: Greater Accra
| Material | Unit | Q3 2026 range |
|---|---|---|
| Cement (Ghacem & Dangote) | 50 kg bag | GHS 101 – 118 |
| Reinforcement bar (12 mm & 16 mm) | tonne | GHS 9,800 – 11,600 |
| Washed sharp sand | tipper (trip) | GHS 900 – 1,400 |
| Stone chippings (3/4″) | tipper (trip) | GHS 1,500 – 2,200 |
| Sandcrete block, 6″ | unit | GHS 6.20 – 7.80 |
| Sandcrete block, 9″ | unit | GHS 7.50 – 9.50 |
| Roofing sheets (pre-painted, 0.4 mm) | m² (supplied) | GHS 85 – 160 |
| Diesel | litre | GHS 16.10 (NPA bulletin, Aug 2026) |
Cement, rebar and block ranges follow ExactoCost’s 2026 Ghana pricing index; diesel follows the National Petroleum Authority weekly bulletin; sand, chippings and roofing are our own three-sample jobsite bands for the Accra–Tema–Dawhenya corridor, revisited quarterly.
Cost per square metre, 2026 (mid-range spec)
| Build standard | What it includes | GHS / m² (all-in) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Foundations, blockwork, roof, unfinished interiors (finish later) | 3,300 – 4,800 |
| Standard finish | Budget build + plaster, POP, tiling, joinery, standard sanitaryware, paint | 5,300 – 6,800 |
| Turnkey / key-ready | Standard finish + premium fittings, external works, landscaping basics | 7,500 – 9,800 |
Derived from completed 3-bedroom jobs in the 140–160 m² band across Accra, Tema and Dawhenya in 2026 — consistent with the widely-cited ~GHS 500K–1.1M basic and ~GHS 695K–1.47M turnkey full-house ranges. Model your own floor plan in the Ghana building cost calculator.
Completing a stalled build — remaining cost by stage
| Stage reached | Typical remaining cost to finish a 3-bed (Accra) | Share of full budget |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation only | GHS 550K – 850K | ~70 – 85% |
| Walls up, no lintel | GHS 420K – 680K | ~55 – 70% |
| Lintel / roof level | GHS 250K – 400K | ~35 – 50% |
| Roofed, rough-in started | GHS 150K – 280K | ~20 – 35% |
| Finishing started | GHS 70K – 180K | ~10 – 20% |
Bands sized for a mid-range 3-bed (~150 m²), Greater Accra, Q3 2026. The only number that beats a band is a re-priced bill of quantities — and that is exactly what the Recovery Diagnostic produces. See the full finish-vs-restart maths in Finishing vs restarting a stalled Ghana build.
Day-rates: the trades you will actually hire
| Trade | Basis | Q3 2026 range (GHS) |
|---|---|---|
| Mason / blocklayer | day | 180 – 260 |
| Carpenter | day | 180 – 280 |
| Steelbender | day | 190 – 290 |
| Plumber / electrician (rough-in) | day | 220 – 340 |
| Painter | day | 160 – 240 |
| General labourer | day | 90 – 140 |
Quoted day-rates cover labour only; materials and supervision sit on top. Agree scope per item, not per day, before you start — the vetting framework in How to hire a contractor who finishes shows how.
Where the numbers come from
Three inputs, refreshed each quarter: ExactoCost’s 2026 pricing index for cements, steels and blocks; the NPA weekly bulletin for fuel; and our own completed-project data from Greater Accra for finishes, trades and per-m² figures. We publish the source because a rate without a date is marketing, not data.
For context on why so many builds stall in the first place, the Ghana Statistical Service 2021 census counted about 825,367 structures uncompleted and without roofs — roughly one in five structures nationwide. The board is part of making sure yours is not the next one.
How to use this board
- Bargaining: itemise your bill of quantities against these ranges before you sit with a contractor or a trader.
- Checking quotes: a figure far outside the band is a flag to interrogate — ask for the breakdown, not a discount.
- Budgeting: put your floor area into the cost calculator and cross-check the result against the per-m² table.
- Finish vs restart decisions: use the stalled-completion table alongside the finish-vs-restart guide before you write off a single cedi.
- Pricing a recovery: a Recovery Diagnostic (GHS 1,500) report itemises cost-to-finish row by row — same structure as the board, sized to your drawings.
Frequently asked questions
Are these construction prices current?
Every figure carries a quarter and a source. The board is refreshed quarterly, and if a number is older than one quarter we say so. The next scheduled refresh is printed with the last-updated date below.
Why do Ghana building prices differ so much between regions?
Freight, factory distance and fuel. Ashanti often runs 3–8% under Accra retail for cement and steel; Northern regions typically run 8–15% over. Ask a supplier in your district for a delivered price, then compare against these Accra bands.
How do I turn these rates into a budget for my specific plan?
Rates x quantities. Architectural drawings plus a bill of quantities from a quantity surveyor convert the board into a project budget. Because our calculator covers the most common floor plans, most owners start there.
About to name a figure? Price it first. Run the cost calculator — and if your build has stalled at any stage, take the free 2-minute diagnosis before you decide. Last refreshed: 16 September 2026.