Akyawkrom (Ashanti Region), 16 Oct. A random survey conducted by the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) on roof rip-offs by rainstorms indicates that about two billion cedis is lost annually to the nation in terms of damage due to poor construction practices. Professor Walter S. Alhassan, Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial research who announced this, said that huge amount could put up about 200 new housing units to increase the total housing stock in the country to boost the shelter delivery programme as enshrined in Vision 2020. Professor Alhassan was delivering the Keynote address at a day's seminar on Construction Cost Reduction organised by the BRRI for District Chief Executives and District Co-ordinating Directors of district assemblies at Akyawkrom, near Kumasi, today. The seminar is to afford the participants the opportunity to recognise and share the professional experience and expertise of the BRRI in the field of quality construction planning, practices and management, to ensure standardisation in quality and cost range of constructional projects. The Director-General said to meet the challenges of new cost- effective and construction management, the BRRI has set up a Construction Cost Reduction Research Group (CCRRG) to train professionals and administrators committed to quality and cost- effectiveness in construction. The group will undertake consultancy services in construction management and development for public, private and self-help sectors. In addition, it will undertake studies in social, economic, environmental and technological problems related to construction development. It will train artisans engaged and interested in shelter development to create a reliable cadre of workforce for the construction industry.