Implementing public-private partnership (PPP) policy for public construction projects in Ghana : critical success factors and policy implications

Public–private partnership (PPP) is considered an innovative procurement approach which offers good prospects for the future of the global construction industry. However, since the introduction of PPP in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI) in 2004, the factors contributing to its successful implementation have not yet been fully explored. This has made many local practitioners very reluctant to procure construction PPP projects. This paper aims to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) for construction PPPs in Ghana by reviewing and analysing two successful PPP projects: the Kojokrom Market Development Project and the Asutsuare Water Treatment Plant Project. The analysis reveals five CSFs for construction PPP projects in Ghana; these are: government commitment and support, strong community support and relationship, openness and constant communication, project profitability and capable private partner. The experiences in the case studies are further compared with global experience. Practical and management implications are provided to facilitate the implementation of PPP policy in GCI. It is expected that the research outputs would inform policy makers and local practitioners on the appropriate measures to adopt when engaging in future projects. Future research should adopt empirical surveys to make objective generalization and comparison with other countries.