Key performance indicators for assessing social sustainability of building construction projects in Ghana: perspectives of stakeholders

Purpose Social sustainability is a critical pillar of holistic sustainable development within the construction industry. However, its assessment in Ghana remains underdeveloped due to the absence of empirically validated, context-specific indicators. To address this gap, this study aims to examine the perspectives of stakeholders of key performance indicators for assessing the social sustainability of building construction projects in Ghana’s construction industry. Design/methodology/approach An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was adopted. A literature review informed the development of a questionnaire capturing key social sustainability performance indicators (SSIs). Using purposive and snowball sampling, 167 responses were obtained from contractors, consultants, clients, academics and government professionals in Ghana’s building construction industry. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 27 and descriptive and inferential statistics. To validate and enrich the three highest-ranked survey findings, six expert stakeholders were interviewed. Qualitative data were thematically analysed and triangulated with the survey results to confirm the relevance and contextual applicability of the identified indicators. Findings The results show that all nine indicators identified from the literature were considered important for assessing the social sustainability performance of construction projects. Among these, occupational health and safety, public health and safety, and impacts on existing infrastructure emerged as the top three priority indicators. Interview insights further reinforced the significance and practicality of these indicators within Ghanaian building projects. The study also revealed notable differences across stakeholder groups in how they ranked the indicators, highlighting the diverse expectations shaping social sustainability considerations in project delivery. Originality/value This study contributes to the limited body of research on social sustainability in developing-country contexts. The findings underscore critical areas that professionals and policymakers must address to strengthen social outcomes and advance the broader social sustainability agenda within Ghana’s construction industry.