A best practice framework for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in road projects : the case of Ghana

Boadi, R

Abstract

Financing of public infrastructure projects in Ghana is predominantly from government-generated inflows. These funds are, however, inadequate to provide the infrastructure needed for the economic transformation and development of the country. The government of Ghana, as a forward-looking developing country, due to its desire to use PPPs to address the financial limitations and to bridge the infrastructure gaps of the country, launched the use of PPP in 2011. Since then, the roads sector has not received the required investment from the private sector, and this has affected road development in the country. Findings from existing literature indicate that some challenges prevent the private sector from investing in PPP road projects. Therefore, this study argues that identifying such challenges and develop a best practice framework that takes into consideration global best practice will create the necessary enabling environment for the private sector to invest in PPP road projects in Ghana.
This study adopts the philosophical stance of pragmatism and uses a sequential exploratory data collection technique to collect data. Data was collected from 250 survey respondents, where questionnaires were hand-delivered, sent via email and ten semi-structured interviews with industry practitioners, from the public and private sector. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The quantitative data were analysed using a combination of descriptive statistics, mean ranking values, frequencies, standard deviation, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) and a Mann-Whitney U test (P) analysis. A reliability test conducted using SPSS software gave a Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.743, with 18 items, indicating a high responses reliability.
The research findings identified seventeen challenges that prevent the private sector from investing in PPP road projects in Ghana. Seventeen best practices were also identified from global best practice to address the challenges identified from the study. The empirical implication of this study is developed and validated best practice framework for PPP road project in Ghana. The validated framework presents the building blocks for creating the necessary enabling environment for private investors to invest in PPP road projects, particularly in Ghana. Therefore, the best practice framework will act as a reference point for countries with similar socio-cultural and economic conditions when an issue related to PPP road project arises. This study contributes by expanding the understanding of policymakers and PPP practitioners on the challenges preventing the private sector and knowledge on best practices relative to private sector investment in PPP road project, particularly in the Ghanaian road sector.

Citation

Boadi, R. A best practice framework for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in road projects : the case of Ghana. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 7, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 7, 2020
• Award Date: Aug 24, 2020