Title: Challenges facing the implementation of electronic procurement in the Ghanaian construction industry: the perspective of contractors and consultants

Authors: Derrick Alfa; De-Graft Owusu-Manu; Philip Opare

Addresses: Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana ' Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana ' Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract: The construction industry is vital for Ghana's economic development yet faces challenges due to traditional paper-based procurement methods. This study investigates obstacles to electronic procurement adoption in Ghana's construction sector. Using a quantitative approach, data was collected via questionnaires distributed to contractors and consultants in Accra, with 40 respondents providing insights from 70 distributed questionnaires. Analytical tools like RII, Cronbach's alpha, Kendall's coefficient, and factor analysis were employed. Top challenges include infrastructure unavailability, data integrity violation, lack of standardised systems, data loss risk, and fear of system unreliability. Factor analysis condensed 23 factors into technological, compliance, user experience, organisational, resource, and infrastructure challenges. This pioneering research sheds light on Ghana's electronic procurement challenges within its construction industry.

Keywords: construction; electronic procurement; public procurement; procurement; information technology; challenges; Ghana; projects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2025.145554

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2025 Vol.23 No.1, pp.1 - 21

Received: 21 Jan 2024
Accepted: 01 Feb 2024

Published online: 04 Apr 2025 *

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