A preliminary inquiry into the applicability of client-contractor partnering in the Ghanaian construction industry

Nuamah, F. A; Manu, Patrick; Manu, Emmanuel

Abstract

Construction projects in Ghana are predominantly procured through the traditional route which has been reported to be characterised by adversarial client-contractor relationships. In an effort to engender more collaboration in client-contractor relationships, studies have often advocated for projects to be procured through partnering arrangements. Clearly, central to the use of client-contractor partnering in a context such as Ghanaian construction industry where there is no report of client-contractor partnering is its perceived applicability. A pilot questionnaire survey of clients and contractors and subsequent analyses rather suggest that client-contractor relationships are not just adversarial but are even more paternalistic in nature. The analyses further suggest that partnering is applicable in the Ghanaian construction industry despite the predominant adversarial and paternalistic client-contractor relationships. Although these findings are not conclusive given the limited scope of the survey, they provide a preliminary positive indication of the use of partnering in Ghana.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference
• Start Date: Aug 12, 2013
• End Date: Aug 14, 2013
• Publication Date: Aug 12, 2013
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: inquiry, client-contractor partnering, Ghanaian construction industry
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/929095
• Publisher URL: http://www.waberconference.com/
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : West Africa Built Environment Research Conference.