New data from the Ghana Statistical Service reveal that a broad range of construction inputs either fell in price or remained largely stable in 2025, offering relief to builders after a prolonged period of steep cost escalation.
Prices of 10 building inputs have fallen. Key among the list are reinforcement bars and cement; two of the most critical and expensive building materials.
Reinforcement prices declined by 7.3 percent year-on-year, while cement prices fell by 5.1 percent, marking a clear turning point in construction affordability.
But the relief goes beyond headline materials. Prices of burglar-proofing dropped by 3.8 percent, small tools by 2.7 percent, and roofing sheets by 1.9 percent, according to the Prime Building Cost Index (PBCI) for December 2025. Plumbing materials also recorded a 0.5 percent decline, while toilet accessories fell by 0.4 percent.
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Other commonly used inputs showed signs of stability rather than inflation. Ironmongery (such as lock and hinges) fine aggregate, and metalwork posted marginal increases of 0.3 percent, 0.4 percent, and 0.7 percent, respectively essentially flat compared with the sharp jumps seen in 2023 and 2024.
Together, these ten items dubbed as the cost cutters of 2025 account for a significant share of everyday construction spending, particularly in residential and small commercial projects.
Their price trends stand in stark contrast to the volatility that plagued the sector in recent years.
The easing in material costs helped push overall building input inflation down to 4.4 percent in December 2025, the eighth consecutive monthly decline, while prices fell 0.2 percent on a month-on-month basis.
The slowdown is no longer a statistical anomaly but increasingly visible at supplier and site levels.
While labour and equipment costs remain elevated, the sharp drop in prices of structural materials such as reinforcement and cement is reshaping the economics of building.
For households and developers who delayed projects amid runaway costs, this shift signals a tentative return to affordability and provides a firmer foundation for planning future construction.
Building materials list
The 10 cost cutters
- Reinforcement
- Cement
- Burglar Proofing
- Small Tools
- Roofing Sheets
- Plumbing
- Toilet Accessories
- Ironmongery
- Fine Aggregate
- Metalwork
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