RISK ANALYSIS IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: THE CASE OF TAMALE METROPOLITAN AREA

Abstract

The construction industry is the largest sector of developing countries' economies,accounting for 5% to 7% of their GDP. Nonetheless , empirical evidence from research by various organisations attests to the fact that the road construction industry in developing countries is fraught with corruption.contributing to its underperformance; however, there is scarcity of empirical studies of what these risks are and their effects on road infrastructural projects delivery in Ghana . The objective of this study is to identify the risks in road construction projects and the effects they have on the project triple constraint (Time , Quality and Cost) delivery in Ghana. The aim is to improve road project quality and timely completion by letting the project major stakeholders know the risk and how they affect the project delivery . This study , investigated the risks and challenges in Road Construction Projects procurement t and delivery and how they affect the quality and timely delivery of road construction projects in the country , with a focus on the Tamale Metropolitan area in the northern region of Ghana The research was a perception study of individual staff of the road sector agencies (GHA , DFR and DUR) , contractors and other stakeholdersand organisation with interest in the road sector , particularly from Tamale in the Northern region of Ghana , using online survey questionnaire (surveymonkey). The results showed a very high level of political interference (risk) in the award of road infrastructure projects , projects are awarded without due regard to the Public Procurement Act , the study also affirms delay in payment by the Ghana Road Fund as another major risk factor in the delivery of road infrastructural projectsin Tamale. Overall , the research saw close correlations between these risks (1. political interference in the award of road infrastructural projects , 2 . delay in payment by the GRF ) andproject triple constraint delivery (Project quality delivery , project schedule completion ITime and overall project Cost). Aside the Academic nature of this work , the road sector is more likely to deliver efficient and cost effective road infrastructure projects , if project stakeholders are made aware of the most prevalent risks , their causes , and effects in the road infrastructure projects delivery.