Public–private partnerships for sustainable infrastructure development in Ghana: a systematic review and recommendations

Purpose The contribution of the public–private partnership (PPP) model towards the achievement of the United Nation (UN)'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been widely acknowledged. However, limited studies have shed light on the connection between PPPs and the achievement of these coveted goals in Ghana. In this study, the authors aimed at analysing and synthesising the existing literature on the use of PPP to achieve sustainability in infrastructure projects in the country. Design/methodology/approach A three-step approach was used to retrieve and review 60 selected articles aided by content analysis. Findings The analysis showed that all existing relevant publications on the application of the PPP model to attain UN’s SDGs in the country are organised around dominant themes, such as poverty alleviation, urban development, waste management and risk management. However, the review revealed little studies exist on pertinent issues relating to PPPs and sustainable development goals, such as climate action, critical resilience, sustainable finance and clean energy. Research limitations/implications Although the study is limited to 60 articles in Ghana, the results reveal pertinent gaps for further research studies to achieve sustainable infrastructural development in Ghana and other countries. Practical implications Holistically, the outcome of this study will serve as a guide to project managers to understand essential issues on attaining sustainability on public projects. Originality/value This article contributes to the literature and practice on the significance of PPP in mainstreaming UN's SDGs in public infrastructure projects.