The Growth of Quality Assurance for Public Works Procurement in Ghana: Problems and Critical Success Factors

Quality of construction is a problem worldwide. The problem is serious and evident in both developed and developing countries. This study sought to explore the problems and critical success factors that impact on quality assurance for public works procurement. The study adopted a mixed research approach. Data for the study was obtained through a questionnaire survey of 120 procurement officers (made up of works officers, quantity surveyors, architects, quality officers, amongst others). Data obtained from the study was analyzed by mean score rankings, one sample t-test and factor analysis. The findings from the study revealed that ‘award of con-tract primarily on price’, ‘consultants acting on behalf of contractors’, ‘single contractors buying all tender documents’, ’ poor workmanship’, and ‘lack of codes and standards’ were the five major problems associated with public works procurement. The findings further showed that out of the 15 factors identified by the respondents as the critical quality assurance success factors for public works procurement, factor analysis enabled 10 of them to be placed under four components: 1)Procurement Systems comprising competitive bidding, contract review and application of quality standards; 2) Quality related factors comprising application of quality standards and material quality; 3) Contractor selection and training factors comprising competitive bidding, contractor selection framework and training policy and education; and 4) Project related factors comprising project supervision, motivation and quality recognition and information, specification and documentation. The study recommends that, Public Procurement Authority organizes regular training and education for procurement entities on non-traditional procurement systems and their impact on quality delivery of projects. Government policies and legislations relating to public procurement need to be further reviewed in order to incorporate quality assurance strategies at the initial phases of projects. The study will be of significance to major stakeholders of public procurement, educational institutions, construction professionals, con-tractors, among others who seek to achieve quality in their day to day transactions.