Criticality analysis of financial risks of public-private partnership projects in a Sub-Saharan African country

Abstract

Integrating sustainable and complex financial performance models into Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project management is a challenging task due to the sheer number of inherent financial risks. Financial risk is a key impediment in the development of public infrastructure projects in Ghana. Studies on PPP projects in the country have concentrated on critical success factors and stakeholder management with little in-depth assessment of financial risks. This study develops and analyses the key financial risks of PPP infrastructure projects in Ghana. The research methodology is set as follows. First, the identification of twenty-eight financial risks in institutional and project reports, and peer-reviewed articles. Second, collection of primary data via surveys from 126 PPP experts (academics, risk managers and project managers). Third, the development and testing of a novel quantitative model on the criticality of financial risks of PPP projects. The findings show high interest charges, excessive operating expenses, and huge construction material costs as some of the critical financial risks that must be tackled immediately in the country. The outcomes of this study broaden the understanding of financial risks of PPP projects, and it sets the stage for further research.