Mireku, E. K.; Kissi, E.; Ikuabe, M.; Arkoh-Clayman, E. and Musah, L. (2026) Encumbrances of integrating sustainability concepts and practices in rural community buildings: Empirical evidence from Ghana. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 44(5), pp. 1232-1245. ISSN 2398-4708
Abstract
Purpose – Sustainability is a critical consideration in the construction industry, but its implementation faces numerous hurdles. This research paper explores the challenges associated with implementing sustainability practices in rural community buildings in the context of Ghana. It aims to identify and understand the obstacles that hinder the integration of sustainable practices and enrich the knowledge base in sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive literature review was conducted to identify the challenges of integrating sustainability concepts and practices in rural community buildings. The study employs a quantitative approach with a sample size of 63 construction professionals in Ghana. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and one-sample t-tests to assess the significance of challenges. Findings – The findings indicate specific challenges construction professionals face in integrating sustainability concepts in rural community buildings. Twenty-one challenges were considered significant by professionals, including limited technology access, inadequate stakeholder collaboration, low community interest, innovation deficiencies, data acquisition complexities, high initial capital requirements and limited availability of sustainable materials. Practical implications – This research has both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretical implications stress the importance of considering the social aspects of sustainable development and stakeholder collaboration in the construction industry. Practical implications provide insights for practitioners and policymakers to address these challenges and promote sustainable development in rural communities. Originality/value – This study contributes to the understanding of challenges related to sustainability in rural community buildings, emphasising the importance of holistic approaches and stakeholder involvement. The research adds original insights to the existing knowledge in sustainable development.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction professionals; rural; rural community buildings; sustainability; sustainability challenges; sustainability concepts |
| Index terms: | holistic approach, collaboration, evidence, data analysis, Ghana, methodology, literature review, stakeholder involvement, integration, knowledge base, sustainable material, research paper, complexity, construction industry, face, construction professional, sustainability challenge, sample size, implementation, statistics, social aspect, sustainable development, sustainable practice, practitioner, data acquisition |
| Subjects: | environmental issues, systems engineering, psychology, health safety and environment, practitioner, professional development, participation process, business, information systems, data analysis and analytics, sociology, sustainable practices, data collection methods, research dissemination and communication, research design and methodology, evaluation and assessment methods, research methods, management, industry analysis, sustainable materials, mathematical modelling, organizational analysis, Geography, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Information Management, Geographical Context, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Stakeholder Management, Procurement, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Organizational Design, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here