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AbstractThe Ghanaian construction industry is struggling to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in projects. This study seeks to evaluate competitive strategies adopted by construction firms; assess construction related elements within the SDGs and investigate impact of competitive strategies on achieving SDGs. Mean score ranking and one sample t-test were used to establish relative significance of the variables. Factor analysis clustered the competitive strategies into three components: Pricing and innovation strategies (PIS), Unique products and segmentation (UPS) and Innovative financing and packaging (IFP). Structural Equation Modelling was used to estimate the impact of competitive strategies on achieving the SDGs. The significant competitive strategies were pricing products lower than rivals; packaging same product in different ways to target different markets; and offering individual attention to customer needs. Furthermore, recycling and reusing greywater (under SDG 6); reduction of emissions and waste (under SDG 11) and promotion of sustainable technologies (under SDG 17) were the significant construction-related elements within SDGs. PIS and IFP had positive impact on achieving the SDGs in the construction industry while UPS had a negative impact. Study makes unique contribution to the Ghanaian construction industry through benchmarking the most significant competitive strategies and how these achieve SDGs.

AbstractMoral hazards and adverse selection (MHAS) lead to failure in public-private partnership (PPP) projects and delay in delivery outputs’ requirements. This research developed a fuzzy synthetic evaluation model (FSEM) to measure cause and effect level of MHAS of PPP construction projects. Mean score ranking and principal component factor analysis (PCFA) evaluated the causal factors. FSEM calculated overall cause and effect (OCE) level. PCFA analysis yielded three components: party and risk factors, incentives and contractual obligationsand contract and project conditionswhile FSEM determined the OCE level to be 3.92. Party and risk factors; incentives and contractual obligations; contract and project conditions had cause and effect levels of 3.99, 3.99 and 3.79. Findings will enhance knowledge on MHAS risk levels of PPP construction projects thereby prompting project stakeholders to reduce the risks. Further research recommends using computer-based systems to minimize complexities and human errors during manual computation of fuzzy analysis.

Purpose: There is a pressing need to increase investments in sustainable infrastructure to promote low carbon economic growth and ensure environmental sustainability. Consequently, this study examines the socio-political factors underlying the adoption of green bond financing of infrastructure projects. Design/methodology/approach: Primary data was gathered from experts with advanced experience in, or knowledge of green bonds in the Kumasi Metropolis. To identify respondents with pertinent knowledge that is relevant to the study, purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used. One-sample t-test and relative importance index were used in this study's statistical analysis. Findings: ‘Training and experience with sustainable finance’ was seen as the most important social factor underlying the adoption of green bond financing of infrastructure projects by the respondents and ‘Governmental tax-based incentives’ was rated as the leading political factor. Originality/value: This pioneering research attempts to ascertain the socio-political factors affecting the adoption of green bond financing of infrastructure projects. Emergent results of analysis and concomitant discussions add knowledge to fill a void in literature on the social and political factors affecting the adoption of green bond financing of infrastructure projects in developing countries.

Purpose: The contribution of the public–private partnership (PPP) model towards the achievement of the United Nation (UN)'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been widely acknowledged. However, limited studies have shed light on the connection between PPPs and the achievement of these coveted goals in Ghana. In this study, the authors aimed at analysing and synthesising the existing literature on the use of PPP to achieve sustainability in infrastructure projects in the country. Design/methodology/approach: A three-step approach was used to retrieve and review 60 selected articles aided by content analysis. Findings: The analysis showed that all existing relevant publications on the application of the PPP model to attain UN’s SDGs in the country are organised around dominant themes, such as poverty alleviation, urban development, waste management and risk management. However, the review revealed little studies exist on pertinent issues relating to PPPs and sustainable development goals, such as climate action, critical resilience, sustainable finance and clean energy. Research limitations/implications: Although the study is limited to 60 articles in Ghana, the results reveal pertinent gaps for further research studies to achieve sustainable infrastructural development in Ghana and other countries. Practical implications: Holistically, the outcome of this study will serve as a guide to project managers to understand essential issues on attaining sustainability on public projects. Originality/value: This article contributes to the literature and practice on the significance of PPP in mainstreaming UN's SDGs in public infrastructure projects.

Purpose: The excellence in design and greater efficiencies (EDGE) certification system has seen a gradual adoption worldwide, with Ghana having six out of its eight certified green buildings bearing an EDGE certification. However, little is known about occupants’ satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of EDGE-certified buildings. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the satisfaction of occupants with the IEQ of an EDGE-certified building in Ghana by identifying their perceived performance of the indoor environment relative to their perceived importance. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted to evaluate the performance of 12 IEQ parameters with the occupants of an EDGE-certified office building. The survey results were evaluated using a gap analysis and both traditional and alternative Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) matrices. Findings: The findings revealed that noise level, temperature, cleanliness, sound privacy, air quality and humidity were IEQs that required the highest priority for improvement. Daylight and artificial lighting showed no appreciable performance gap. Space layout was adequately satisfied, whereas space size was overly satisfied. Visual privacy and outdoor view were found to require low priority of improvement. Originality/value: This study contributes to the state-of-the-art of the IEQ of green buildings. It pioneers the research that seeks to examine the IEQ of EDGE-certified buildings. The gap analysis and the IPA were effective in prioritizing the IEQs for improvement action and provided a practical research framework that helped researchers examine the performance of green buildings, thereby giving valuable feedback to policymakers and building owners.