Implementation Challenges of Public-Private Partnership in Infrastructure Development Programme in Ghana

Abstract

The provision of key economic infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, power plants, water treatment plants, among others remains prominent in the development of a country‟s economy. In Ghana however, the immediate requirements for these projects coupled with inherent budget constraints in the public sector makes it difficult for government to bridge the infrastructural gap. Public-Private Partnership has been identified as the innovative approach to finance public projects to enhance economic growth; a shift from „government providing‟ to „government enabling‟, approach where the private sector takes a center stage in the provision of public infrastructure. This comes as a result of perceived inefficiencies, lack of skills and technical know-how coupled with corruption and budgetary constraints associated with the public sector. The study adopted a qualitative approach which involved interviews and the use of statutory documents and reports as well as empirical data. This study reviewed the challenges that confront the implementation of PPP in infrastructure development in Ghana, and identified; inadequate legal and regulatory framework, low level of government capacity, over reliance on unsolicited proposals, politicization of concessions, Leadership and Public resistance and lack of understanding of PPP by local investors as the challenges that confront the implementation of PPP in infrastructure development in Ghana.