Public Construction Projects in Cape Coast Metropolis

Benjimin Boahene Ankoma, Zakari Mustapha* and Papa Kojo Annan
Cape Coast Technical University, School of Built and Natural Environment, Department of Construction Technology and Management, P. Box DL. 50, Cape Coast, Ghana
*Corresponding Author: Zakari Mustapha, Cape Coast Technical University, School of Built and Natural Environment, Department of Construction Technology and Management, P. Box DL. 50, Cape Coast, Ghana.

Published: October 02, 2023

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Abstract  

Construction in Cape Coast Metropolis has been impacted by the cost increase of public building construction projects in Ghana. The goal of this study was to evaluate how well Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (C.C.M.A.) construction projects performed in terms of cost. The study used a qualitative approach to gather its data. During the fieldwork period, forty (40) structured questionnaires were given to contractors working on C.C.M.A. projects. The data analysis was done using the Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and the results were displayed using relative index ranking and descriptive statistics. The survey results show that the main causes of cost overruns in projects within the C.C.M.A. were variations in material prices, differences in currency exchange rates, high machinery costs, inaccurate or inadequate estimates of the original cost, and frequent variations or change orders. The study makes the following recommendations: projects should have an adequate scope, effective project costing and finance, and qualified staff should be used in the administration of the projects.

Keyword: Cost of material; budget escalation; high cost of material; labour shortage; material shortage

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