Assessing Critical Factors for Successful Implementation of Donor-Funded Projects in Ghana: A Case of the Ministry of Education

Abstract

Donor-funded projects are crucial for socio-economic development of nations. Unfortunately, infrastructural deficit in Ghana has widened in the face of dwindling oversees development aid. Delivering value-for-money project remains vitally important for key stakeholders. This study seeks to examine critical factors for project success/failure, and specifically the relationship between critical factors and successful implementation of donor-funded projects in Ghana. The study was conducted through a survey of fifty (50) respondents including Project Practitioners, Contractors, Consultants, Suppliers and Ministry of Education Officials. Correlation analysis and regression analysis were later deployed to analyze the data gathered. The findings of the study showed that the following five predictor variables/critical factors; project planning, design, monitoring, stakeholder engagement and institutional environment are positively and significantly related to successful implementation of donor-funded projects. The study actually concentrated on World Bank funded projects implemented by the Ministry of Education. Thus, limiting the generalization of the findings. Besides, there was also limited availability of local empirical literature with respect to critical factors that influence donorfunded projects implementation in Ghana. The results suggest that public sector organizations that embrace the above five critical factors succeed in the implementation of donor-funded projects. Thus, it is recommended that Development Partners and beneficiary Governments should give a more detailed consideration to the five (5) critical factors in the formulation and implementation of loan/grant agreements to help ensure the success of future development projects.