Despite an overall slowdown in building cost inflation, nearly half of the components used in Ghana’s construction sector recorded price increases above the national average in December 2025.
This was contained in the latest Prime Building Cost Index (PBCI) bulletin released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
The GSS reported that although the year-on-year inflation rate for the construction sector stood at 4.4 percent in December 2025, “11 out of the 23 sub-groups recorded an inflation rate above the national average” .
This development suggests that cost pressures remain uneven across the sector, with some construction inputs continuing to experience sharp price increases despite the broader moderation in building cost inflation.
At the sub-group level, the bulletin identified equipment as the most inflationary component.
“Equipment recorded the highest year-on-year inflation rate of 14.9 percent,” the GSS stated, pointing to rising costs associated with construction machinery and tools .
In contrast, reinforcement materials provided some relief to builders, recording the lowest inflation rate among all sub-groups.
According to the report, “Reinforcement recorded the lowest year-on-year inflation rate of -7.3 percent,” indicating a decline in prices over the 12-month period .
The Statistical Service explains that the Prime Building Cost Index tracks changes in the prices of construction inputs including materials, labour and equipment, and serves as a key reference point for stakeholders in the sector.
The PBCI, the report noted, is used by “investors, developers, contractors, and policy makers to negotiate contracts, adjust bids, budget effectively, and monitor inflation trends in the building sector” .
While the overall monthly change in the index declined by 0.2 percent in December 2025, the GSS data suggest that persistent price increases in specific sub-groups could continue to affect project costs and contract negotiations within the construction industry going into 2026.
