Evaluating the Competencies of Built Environment Consultants in Contributing to Sustainable Construction in Ghana

Abstract

There is growing evidence that the earth’s ability to sustain life as it has been known for thousands of years has been seriously threatened, and if care is not taken, will result in irreversible degradation of the planet, its ecosystems, and ultimately the quality of life (QOL) of its inhabitants. Sustainable construction is a holistic process aiming to restore and maintain harmony between the natural and built environments and create settlements that affirm human dignity and encourage economic equity. In pursuit of achieving sustainable construction (SC) in the Ghanaian construction industry, the competencies of the built consultants cannot be downplayed. The study aimed to evaluate such competencies which are critically required of the built consultants in achieving SC. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. Architects, quantity surveyors, project managers, and structural engineers in Ghana were the targeted population. The study adopted a purposive sampling technique to select the survey respondents. The findings of the study revealed fifteen (15) critical competencies required of the built environment consultants in the quest of achieving SC in Ghana. These included; Strategic planning, Quality Management, Time management, Team building, Understanding and interpreting building codes and regulations, and Professional ethics. This study contributes to the state of the art by evaluating the competencies of the built environment consultants concerning the adoption and implementation of sustainable construction in Ghana. This would enable policymakers to be able to develop policies to enhance the environment.