Evolution of project implementation in Africa: the rise of public-private partnerships: case study: Ghana's transportation infrastructure needs

Adequate and quality infrastructure systems are required to support sustainable development of countries worldwide. However, provision of infrastructure for public use which in most cases is the responsibility of governments comes at very high costs. With the current global economic challenges and high investment costs for transportation infrastructure development, the concept of Public-private Partnership (PPP) is being considered highly as a solution to ensure efficiency of project delivery and also to decrease the burden on governmentsr purse. Despite the benefits of PPPs, many governments are reluctant to adopt it as a means of project delivery due to the complex nature of contracts among other reasons. This paper explores the use of PPPs as a more viable and sustainable option for transportation infrastructure project implementation in the developing world, especially Africa by considering PPP success stories as well as potential pitfalls in the region. Using Ghana as a case study, the paper takes a closer look at the causes of failure of government and private sector partnerships as well as the prerequisites of successful public and private partnerships that must be put in place to realize the full benefits of PPPs.