The application of planning and management tools in project implementation: a case study of Tailings Dam Monitoring Project of Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) Limited, Obuasi

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1997-02-22
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Projects provide the means of achieving specific goals of organisations by translating policies into practice. However, the process involved in achieving these goals is complex. Project planning and Management techniques have therefore been developed over the years, to deal with a wide range of complex tasks to be performed in specified sequence and also to coordinate activities in which there are cost and time constraints. In spite of the application of project planning and management techniques in project implementation, many projects have not achieved their objectives because there were delays in project completion and cost overruns. The mining sector which undoubtedly plays significant role in Ghana’s economy has not been spared of this fate. Mining projects are characterised by high risks and huge capital outlay but the outcome of such projects do not commensurate with the resources invested. For instance, Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) Limited, the largest mining company in Ghana, has invested billions of dollars in capital projects but the performance of such projects had not been very encouraging thereby reducing profit margins and earnings per share. The company recently implemented a Tailings Dam Monitoring (TDM) project to recover gold from the tailings located in the Boete area of Obuasi and indications are that the project was not planned arid managed effectively. This study therefore aims at reviewing the TDM project particularly with reference to project planning and management techniques and making proposals on the application of effective techniques in ensuring the successful implementation of projects by AGC Limited, The study revealed that both cost and schedule performance were very low and the project was almost six months behind schedule. Among the factors that accounted for the poor performance were inadequate data during project preparation, faulty planning, procurement problems, laxity in supervision and organisational inefficiencies. The resultant effect of these factors is increase in cash operating cost per ounce of gold. This is why the company is currently pursuing management restructuring to it bring under control. It would be beneficial if the company could improve upon the present project planning and management practices by making conscious efforts at adopting a structured approach in the application of project planning and management techniques and also restructuring the Project Department to be effective in the planning, implementation and management of the company’s projects.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in National Development Policy and Planning, 1997
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