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Following the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in 1983, Ghana’s mining sector has experienced significant growth, making Ghana one of the 10-leading producers of gold globally and the largest in Africa since 2018. To this end, the mining industry has been contributing significantly to the country’s total export earnings and the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite its contribution to the economy, mining in Ghana has been a subject of debate in the past few years due to its diverse impacts on the host communities. This study therefore conducted a review of the implications of large-scale mining in Ghana. Findings revealed that, mining activities gravely affect the quality of water in most mining communities due to the use of toxic substances such as mercury. Mining activities also destroy forest reserves and farmlands, cause respiratory diseases and death. The study therefore suggests an effective collaboration between all relevant stakeholders in monitoring mining activities to help mitigate the impacts on the host communities.

Purpose Industrialized construction (IC) is promoted to address some of the ills associated with the processes and products of the traditional construction approach. With several successful projects, IC is progressively becoming a preferred alternative construction approach and spurred the interest of contractors, developers and housing authorities in the technology. Increasingly, these stakeholders are keen to ascertain the compatibility and feasibility of using IC in their projects. This paper aims to develop a knowledge-based decision support framework for implementing industrialized construction projects (ICPs) that can facilitate better and informed decision-making when deciding to implement ICPs. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review was implemented to recruit 40 decision support factors (DSFs) and grouped into project requirements, location and site attribute, labour considerations and organizational factors. A 3-member expert panel validated the relevance of 35 DSFs, which became candidates for a structured questionnaire survey of experts in 18 countries. Statistical techniques are used to evaluate and prioritize the DSFs, leading to the development of a conceptual framework. Findings Statistical analysis revealed 33 significant DSFs. The top five most significant factors that could influence the decision to implement IC in a project include a stringent requirement for project quality control, suitability of the design for IC, organizational readiness and competencies in ICPs, client receptivity to IC and the need to minimize field construction time. A framework of project requirements, location and site attributes, labour considerations and organizational factors was proposed as decision support. Practical implications The proposed framework may help to inform decision-making regarding the implementation of IC in a project. It has wider applicability because it includes technical, managerial and operational aspects of and the required competencies for IC, which are shared between project types and territories. The prioritized DSFs could be used as a guide when implementing IC, especially in countries where bespoke decision support systems cannot be developed. Originality/value The paper delineated the most important DSFs that are shared between IC project types and territories and can be used to investigate the compatibility of using IC in a proposed project. This research constitutes the first exclusive attempt at delineating, quantifying and ranking the sets of decision-making factors, drawing on international data set and contributes to the empirical checklist of DSFs for ICPs.

In valuing property one method that is commonly adopted in situations where market evidence is non-existent is the Depreciated Replacement Cost method. As the name suggests, this involves estimating the replacement cost as new of the property, which is the subject matter of the valuation, and making allowances for accrued depreciation. The allowance made for depreciation is important as it allows for the estimation of value that reflects the current state of the property. The estimation of depreciation for valuation purposes has been the subject for a number of empirical studies. There is however no consensus within the valuation profession as to which approach to estimating accrued depreciation addresses the key elements that are of concern to the valuer viz; age, condition and functional obsolescence. The paper proposes one such approach that incorporates all these elements in the estimation of accrued depreciation for valuation purposes. The approach first considers the individual causes of depreciation separately and uses different methods to estimate accrued depreciation for each of the causes of depreciation. Total accrued depreciation is then estimated by first taking account of curable physical depreciation and then age and functional obsolescence. The approach proposed presents a basis for a more comprehensive discussion and a subsequent adoption of a common methodology valuers can rely on to estimate depreciation.

In compound houses in Ghana, tenants share basic facilities such as washrooms, kitchen and electricity meter. Most tenants have problems with queuing to use facilities and equal payment for utilities. Finding solution to these problems has resulted in emerging housing improvement trends on the rental market in Ghana. Results from 88 respondents indicated that this trend has resulted in increasing urban rental values. Landlords are improving the units in their compound houses because tenants find them more convenient and are ready to pay thrice more to live in one. Rent increment is sometimes based on the personal circumstances of landlords.

A study on the dynamics of the defect liability period (DLP) in Ghana is lacking, notwithstanding the fact that it is a common practice in the real estate industry. This study examines the practice of the DLP in Ghana's real estate industry. The study adopts a combination of simple random and stratified sampling techniques to select 29 members of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) and 58 homeowners in Accra. We employ binary and multiple linear regression models to analyze the data gathered from the study respondents. Findings revealed that the DLP in Accra ranges from 6 to 24 months for defects to fittings and fixtures as well as to the structure. While private developers are divided on the adequacy of the DLP, homeowners believe that it is inadequate. Private developers suggest a longer DLP for the structure than for fittings and fixtures, whereas homeowners suggested longer DLP for both structure and fittings and fixtures. The implication of the findings is that longer DLP could be a strategy for attracting prospective homeowners. It is recommended, among others, that GREDA develop a manual to standardize the practice of the DLP in Ghana.