Assessing causes and effects of delay in completion of second cycle building projects in Sunyani municipality, Brong-Ahafo region

Abstract

Construction suspension can be defined as execute later than intended planned, or later than specific time that all the concerned parties agreed for construction project. Relative studies have revealed that the causes of construction project suspensions vary from country to country. The research was conducted to assess into causes and effects of delayance in completion of second cycle building projects using Sunyani municipality, Brong-Ahafo Region as a case study area. The study was based on the core objectives; causes of delays in construction in project and effects of delay in building projects. The study adopted a descriptive study design with a stratified and simple random sampling technique in sampling a total sample size of 44 respondents. Quantitative data analysis methods was used with the aid of Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) version 21.0. The following were the major findings of the study. Factors such as contractors improper planning during construction, underestimation of the project costs, poor supervision of works on site, poor communication between contracting parties and bureaucracy in decision making were found as the causes of delays in construction projects. The study also found that building constructors go through series of challenges during building constructions. The challenges identified were insufficient planning, integration or allocation of resources, inaction or wrong action due to incorrect information communication, unenforceable conditions, impacts of accidents, fire and theft, unpredictable price changes errors in calculation and among others. The results depict best strategies for minimizing delay in building projects. It was found that, to minimize delays, clients should have the finances in time to pay the contractors after completion of a work, clients must make quick decisions to solve any problem that arises during the execution, contractors should not take up the job, in which they do not have sufficient expertise, contractors should have able site-managers for the smooth execution of work, contractors must make sure they have a sound financial backing. The study therefore recommends that clients should not select contractors based only on the lowest price but rather on lowest evaluated bidder.