Satisfaction with public-private partnership in solid waste management in Ghana

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the satisfaction level of stakeholders with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Ghana. The study was underpinned by the pragmatist paradigm and mixed-methods design. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used to engage 777 respondents for the data. Narrative inquiry, descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to analyse the data. The study found that even though there was low participation of service users in the contractual arrangement regarding PPP in SWM, the service agreement was highly responsive to their (73%) SWM needs, as they (51.6%) were generally satisfied with the service provided through the agreement. This finding was at variance with the general participation-satisfaction nexus that greater participation leads to stakeholder satisfaction and vice-versa. The implication is that a high level of responsiveness of a service to the needs of stakeholders could sometimes offset the need for greater participation to enhance satisfaction. The result further suggests that the responsiveness-satisfaction nexus is stronger than the participation-satisfaction nexus in the PPP arrangement for SWM in Ghana. The study recommends that PPP arrangements in SWM in Ghana should focus more on adopting innovative ways to deliver services under the agreement to continuously address the immediate needs of service users and sustain their relevance in public service management. It also recommends that Assembly persons should utilise town hall meetings to increase the participation of service users in the contractual and implementation issues regarding PPP in SWM.

KEYWORDS:

• Ghana
• Public-private partnership
• Responsiveness
• Satisfaction of service users
• Solid waste management
• Stakeholder participation

Public Interest Statement

There has been increased global interest in the management of public infrastructure and services among international development agencies and governments in recent decades. The belief in the effectiveness of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Solid Waste Management (SWM) has, thus, characterised governance in many developing countries, including Ghana. However, stakeholder participation and interests have been critical to successful PPP implementation, sustainability of SWM and realising the benefits of PPPs. To contribute to the international discourse on successful PPPs, this study assessed the relationship between stakeholder participation and the level of satisfaction with SWM in Ghana. Though there was low participation of service users in the PPP contractual arrangement for SWM, the primary users were generally satisfied with the service. Ghana should, therefore, focus more on adopting innovative ways in its PPPs in SWM to deliver services that continuously address service users’ immediate needs to sustain their relevance in public service management.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. 10.6084/m9.figshare.24310225 N/A

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Millicent Abigail Aning-Agyei

Millicent Abigail Aning-Agyei is a Research Fellow at the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She holds a PhD degree in Development Studies. Millicent has garnered over a decade of practical experience in collaborating with other researchers and consultants in several disciplines to conduct research projects and provide consultancy services for local and international agencies and state and non-state actors. Her core expertise includes sustainable development, community development, stakeholder engagement, development policy, forest management, sanitation and waste management, public-private partnership (PPP), and gender studies and analysis. This study primarily contributes to stakeholder participation and interest in PPP arrangements for solid waste management. It postulates that Ghana must not only focus on adopting PPPs in managing its public goods but also consider the immediate needs of primary users in public service management as it strives to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 6, 12 and 17 by 2030.