Tools, methods for determining quality of construction projects in the construction industry, a study of public sector projects in Ghana

Abstract

There is a growing concern with the quality of construction projects in the public sector in Ghana. The study explored the determinants of quality of construction projects in the public sub-sector of the construction industry in Ghana within the context of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Ashanti region. The study was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. A total of 207 respondents out of the sampled 210 respondents took part in the study. The study identified quality performance, cost performance, time performance and beneficiaries’ satisfaction were the common approaches the various Assemblies adopted in ensuring and measuring the quality performance of construction projects. In addition, most MMDAs adopted the stakeholder role model, beneficiaries’ satisfaction as some of the strategies for measuring quality of construction projects. Internal determinants of construction project quality included design, contract, materials, labour and equipment determinants. External determinants of construction project quality included economic environment, social environment, technological environment, procurement process and the physical environment. The study identified lack of competitive bidding process, weak capacities of project management teams, bribery and corruption in the construction industry among others as the key constraints to enhancing the quality performance of construction projects. The study recommended capacity building on project management for key staff of MMDAs, strict adherence to procurement best practices, ensuring participatory project planning and implementation, leveraging on the internal determinants to minimize the effects of external determinants, utilization of realistic designs and budgets and sustaining an Effective Monitoring and Evaluation Systems as measures for enhancing the quality of construction projects within the public sub sector.