Quantitative Assessment of Environmental Challenges Hindering Sustainability in the Ghanaian Construction Industry: Implications for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Environmental challenges in the construction sector pose significant obstacles to achieving sustainability in Ghana. This study quantitatively assesses these challenges, identifying systemic barriers that hinder environmental management practices. A structured survey was conducted with 275 industry stakeholders, including developers, bankers, environmental managers, and government agencies. Using a five-point Likert scale, responses were analysed through descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to categorise key challenges. The findings reveal four dominant challenge constructs: (1) Financial Barriers, (2) Regulatory Deficiencies, (3) Knowledge and Awareness Gaps, and (4) Infrastructure Constraints. Among these, financial barriers emerged as the most critical obstacle (mean = 4.5, SD = 0.5), with high costs of green technologies and limited access to financing deterring sustainability adoption. Weak regulatory enforcement (r = 0.65) further exacerbates noncompliance, while inadequate expertise (r = 0.57) hinders effective implementation. The study contributes to Institutional Theory by demonstrating that regulatory frameworks alone are insufficient, necessitating complementary financial and educational interventions. Policy recommendations include tax incentives, public-private partnerships for financing, mandatory sustainability training, and improved green infrastructure investments. These findings have broad implications for developing economies facing similar sustainability challenges. Future research should explore policy effectiveness and cross-country comparisons to benchmark Ghana's progress against global best practices.