Building a wattle frame structure

Builder Kwadwo David Manoo ties roof joists to the corner pole of a wattle frame structure being built on the grounds of the Banda Cultural Centre. He uses flexible fibre stripped from inner bark of young trees to lash and tie the three intersecting poles (a corner post and two stacked roof joists). Other builders continue the process of placing wood poles into post holes to create the vertical element of the wall’s wattle frame. In the background, young men use wood hammers to pound and loosen bark from wood poles in preparation for using them in the construction. Community researcher Sampson Attah works with the group to place the poles in post holes. Their top ends abut the roof joist. EMKP research Zonke Guddah expresses concern about the builders maintaining safe practices as they lift the poles into place. Another builder begins the process of splitting the woody petioles of raffia palm, which will be placed horizontally against the wall posts. The men chat in Nafaanra as they work Banda-Ahenkro, Banda District, Ghana.