An investigation into delays caused by consultants in the implementation of road construction projects in the Ashanti region of Ghana
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Date
2021-06-18
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Abstract
Available data from the Ministry of Roads and Highways indicates that majority of
road construction projects in Ghana awarded from 2015 for completion by 2016 or
2017 had delayed in completion. The general opinion expressed by the public to
these delays is delayed payment of work done by the government to the affected
contractors. However, consultants who are major stakeholders in the construction
industry and work on behalf of the government are often not mentioned to be a
contributing factor to these delays. The aim of this study was therefore to establish
delays caused by consultants in the implementation of road construction projects in
Ghana. The objectives of the study were: to identify key causes of delays caused by
consultants in road construction projects in Ghana; to identify the effects of the
delays on contractors in the completion of projects; and to outline measures to
mitigate the delays caused by consultants in road construction projects in Ghana.
Quantitative research method and census sampling technique were employed due to
the number of populations which was equal to the sample size for this research work.
A total of fifty-five (55) questionnaires were administered and all the fifty-five (55)
responses were retrieved indicating a response rate of hundred percent (100%). The
respondents for the study were the technical staff of three main road agencies under
the Ministry of Roads and Highways in the Ashanti Region namely Ghana Highway
Authority (GHA), Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) and Department of Urban
Roads (DUR) and two other private consultants engaged by the Department of
Urban Roads at the time of this research work in the Ashanti Region. The statistical
methods employed in analysing data were descriptive statistics, mean score ranking,
relative importance index (RII), correlational analysis and multiple regression
method. The top three causes of delays caused by consultants at the implementationiv
stage of road construction projects were multiple variations orders on same project,
delays in issuing variation of works and inadequate fuel and logistics. The major
effects of the delays on contractors in the completion of projects were increased
interest on loans, claims for extension of time and/or compensation and increased
cost of projects. Measures suggested for mitigating road construction delays in
Ghana in their order of importance are that procurement process must be transparent
to all stakeholders, funds/budget must be allocated before undertaking a project and
consultants should produce complete design drawings and cost estimates based on
the design drawings.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and
Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Award Degree of
Master of Science in Project Management.
Keywords
Delay, Consultant, Procurement, Variations