Effects of Delays on Project Quality within the Construction Industry in Ghana

Effects of Delays on Project Quality within the Construction Industry in Ghana

Adwoa Sefa-Boakye

Delays in construction projects have been identified as a major challenge that affects many projects; Geraldine John Kikwasi (2012). The quality of work done is criticized due to these delays. The delays are caused by many factors which are basically project management related challenges coupled with other external factors Albert P. C. Chan et al (2004). Construction project delay is also seen as a worldwide problem in project delivery and Ghana has received its share. Numerous efforts by researchers and construction project management professionals to confront this problem have not yielded satisfactory results. Delays have a great and undesirable impact in terms of quality, cost and risk in construction projects. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify the effects of delays on project quality within the construction industry in Ghana. In attaining the aim of the study the following specific objectives were advanced, one, to find out the factors that causes delay in construction projects, two to assess the effect of the delays on the quality of construction projects, and three to establish a relationship between delay of projects and quality of projects. The study adopted a quantitative structured questionnaire survey by targeting five selected construction companies within Accra and Tema. Respondents were selected by the quota sampling technique. Out of the One Hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires distributed, eighty (80) were retrieved from respondents sixty-seven percent (67). Relative Importance Index and Severity Index were used to analyze the data collected. The study revealed that, three main causes of delays that affect project quality were: Scope, Procurement and Human Resource factors. These three factors composed of 18 indicators ranging from financial resources, delays in honouring payment certificates, poor supervision, underestimation of the project duration, poor communication among stakeholders, challenging designs, environmental conditions, complexity for developers to access bank credit or loans, poor planning, material price escalations, poor data collections and documentations and project selection process or procedures. In concluding, the following measures were promoted for effective construction delivery that will eliminate delay and promote quality work: Proper scope definition and planning, establishing fasts on the financial liquidity of project sponsors, agreed terms and specifications, proper communication channel quick payment schedules agreed by all the contracting parties. KEYS WORDS: Effects, delay, Quality, construction projects, Ghana, contractors, Surveyors, Engineers, Architects and Consultants

MSc. Engineering Project Management

Ghana Technology University College

September 2016

Mrs. Getrude Amoakohene