International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET International Open Access, Monthly, Peer Reviewed, Reputed Journal ISSN (online): 2581-3048

Impact Factor (2025): 6.9

DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET

Corruption in Road Sector Procurement in Ghana

Abstract

Corruption in road sector procurement is becoming devastating by the day. The paper sought to identify causes, most prevalent corruption, opportunities, reasons for engaging in corruption, and measures for fighting the menace in the road sector. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the various institutions because they are the government agencies responsible for the country’s rural, urban and highway networking. The selection of the respondents was done using a snowball sampling technique. Out of ninety-two questionnaires administered, eighty were returned, representing an 87% response rate. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Excel software were used for the data analysis. A conducive and enabling work environment was found to be the major cause of corruption in road procurement. The most prevalent corruption identified was indirect payments, inappropriate gifts, hospitality, entertainment, and travel. Lack of financial control was attributed to the surge in corruption in the road sector. The key reasons procurement officials engage in corruption are the benefits they gain when they succeed and the lack of monitoring, supervision, and sanctions. Respondents claimed that senior management commitment, clear communication of guidelines and policies, and taking action against perpetrators are the main measures for subduing corruption. These institutions’ internal control mechanisms, institutional frameworks, and structures should be strengthened to minimise procurement corruption. The paper identifies the salient issues of corruption that future policies can help to curb.  Corruption within the road sector can be suppressed by eliminating bad cultural practices and business methods. Top management would need a high-level commitment to clamp down on illicit behaviours to set the tone for elevated ethical standards that frown upon corrupt practices.

Country : Ghana

1 Benjamin Boahene Akomah2 Ebenezer Forson3 Zakari Mustapha4 Abban Joseph

  1. Cape Coast Technical University, School of Built and Natural Environment, Department of Construction Technology and Management, P. O. Box DL 50, Cape Coast, Ghana
  2. Cape Coast Technical University, School of Built and Natural Environment, Department of Construction Technology and Management, P. O. Box DL 50, Cape Coast, Ghana
  3. Cape Coast Technical University, School of Built and Natural Environment, Department of Construction Technology and Management, P. O. Box DL 50, Cape Coast, Ghana
  4. Cape Coast Technical University, School of Built and Natural Environment, Department of Construction Technology and Management, P. O. Box DL 50, Cape Coast, Ghana

IRJIET, Volume 7, Issue 11, November 2023 pp. 486-502

doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2023.711065

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