Traditionally, infrastructure projects have been conceived, prepared, and executed largely from the perspectives of the sponsor and technical experts. Also, the sponsor/technical expert approach, traditionally meant that project information was sacrosanct and so was mostly meant for the sponsor (i.e. Government) and the technical experts and sometimes the Donor.
In recent times globally however, incorporating the perspectives, direct interests, and the participation of other stakeholders like beneficiaries, users, resident/host communities, media, and the public has been on the increase because of six main reasons;
The realization that “sponsor/technical experts only” approach was myopic and fails to foresee and address all the key issues.
The realization that involving other stakeholders during the preparation and execution increases the value (benefits and outcomes) of projects.
The realization that involving other stakeholders during the preparation and execution engender ownership and sustainability of completed projects.
Significant negative project impacts are often left unmitigated or inappropriately mitigated.
There is the need to control and minimize pollution and degradation of the physical environment (occasioned by projects) within project areas;
project areas environments bear the brunt of negative project impacts
There is the need to minimize the disruption and degradation of lives and livelihoods of residents (occasioned by projects) within project areas;
project areas residents bear the brunt of negative project impact
In the particular case of Ghana, in spite of these realizations and the efforts being made, especially by Development Partners (Donors) on Donor funded projects to promote inclusiveness of stakeholders in project preparation and execution in recent times, there is still a significant gap between government and technical experts on one side, and other stakeholders and the public on the other to the extent that many projects/contracts are viewed with suspicion and skepticism by most citizens. Evidence available on many completed and stalled projects strengthens this suspicion and skepticism of citizens.
In Ghana, besides the joy that a project is coming, there is always the fear of losing business and income by project corridor operators like traders, shop owners, transport operators, mechanic shops, farmers, etc. Other issues of concern are non-payment of compensation (or inadequate compensation, delayed payments) to affected property owners, disruption of vehicular and pedestrian accesses of residents, disruption in public mobility, air and noise pollution, vibrations, disruption and distortion of the local socioeconomic environment by the influx of construction workers, disruption in the supply of power and potable water, local flooding due to disruption of waterways, local flooding due to non-comprehensive drainage considerations, etc. Sometimes, negative impacts of the project do have effects far beyond the immediate project environment.
Often in Ghana, projects stall and contractors even abandon site resulting in resident communities and also the public bearing the brunt of the many challenges that abandoned/uncompleted projects pose. Usually, the public especially resident communities are left in the dark as to what the issue is with the project/contract, how long the suspension of work will last, when work will resume, and when the project will finally be completed.
In the case of mega or major projects, the questions often asked by resident communities are; What is in this project for us? What have we benefitted from this project?
It is our candid view that in Ghana, i) full disclosure of project information to all stakeholders and the public, ii) awareness and consciousness of stakeholders and the public, iii) vigilance of stakeholders and the public will together go a long way to enhance Accountability, Effectiveness, and Sustainability of public funded infrastructure projects in Ghana.