Ghana is a pioneer in the decarbonation of cement worldwide and this also explains the international interest in this event with participants from 21 different countries. Other conference topics were carbon reduction, the path to net-zero, LC3 cement potentials and renewable bioresources for sustainable building with concrete.

In a panel discussion led by Dr Mark Bediako, Deputy Director of the CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute in Ghana, experts such as Prof. Alex Dodoo, Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and Emmanuel A. Cherry, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GhCCI), as well as Peter Dickson from CBI, Prof. Olonade Kolawole (University of Lagos, Nigeria), James Sarfo-Ansah from Regimanuel Concrete Products Ltd and John Teye Ohipeni from Ghacem Limited, discussed in detail how cement and concrete quality can be a guarantee for a successful construction industry.

The conference programme also included sustainability topics. A particular highlight was the lecture by Stef Maas, Managing Director of the Belgian Precast Concrete Federation FEBE, who also spoke on behalf of fib - Fédération Internationale du Béton. Maas presented the content of the Structural Precast Design Handbook, which contains everything that is required for the planning of safe precast structures. At the end of his lecture, he made this very appreciated book available to the audience free of charge, thanks to the support of fib. Almost 100 experts have gratefully accepted this offer and the knowledge brought to Ghana by this initiative will certainly improve and boost precast operations in the future.

In the exhibition, companies from more than 10 different countries presented production facilities for the concrete and precast concrete industry.

The lecture programme attracted many visitors with numerous lectures from practice-related research. The relevant industry associations were also present, who had actively invited their members to participate in ICCX West Africa. A notable addition to the exhibition was the Bank of Africa, which underlined its support for local industry in the valuation of loans, even in times of a recovering economy. The next edition of ICCX West Africa is planned for 2026.