How to Choose a Construction Company in Ghana: 12 Questions to Ask

The construction company you choose will shape your budget, your timeline, the quality of your home and your stress levels for the next year or more. In Ghana's busy construction market, which ranges from large firms to one-man operations, choosing well is critical.

Here are the twelve questions we'd ask if we were in your shoes.

12 questions to ask before you hire

1. Is the company registered, and where is its office?

Ask for the company's registration details and visit its physical office. A real business with a permanent address is easier to hold accountable.

2. Can I see completed projects and visit them?

Photos are easy to borrow from the internet. Ask for addresses of completed projects and, ideally, visit one with the owner's permission. Ongoing sites are even more revealing: are they tidy, safe and well organised?

3. Can I speak to previous clients?

Ask for two or three references, including at least one client who built from abroad if that's your situation. Ask them about budget, timeline, communication and how problems were handled.

4. Who will actually do the work?

Find out who will manage your project day to day, which professionals are on the team (architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, site managers) and which trades are in-house versus subcontracted.

5. Will I get an itemised Bill of Quantities?

A professional quote is based on a detailed BOQ listing materials, quantities and rates. A single lump-sum figure on one page tells you very little and makes variations easy later. Learn more in our guide to construction costs in Ghana.

6. What exactly is included and excluded?

Check whether the price includes the boundary wall, external works, MEP fittings, sanitary ware, kitchen, wardrobes, permits and professional fees. Exclusions are where budgets blow up.

7. How are payments structured?

Good builders propose payments tied to completed milestones. Be wary of demands for large upfront payments far ahead of the work.

8. How will you report progress?

Expect regular updates, ideally weekly, with photos, videos and a summary of work completed and money spent. This is essential if you're building from abroad.

9. Who handles the building permit?

A professional company will either handle the building permit or insist that one is in place before starting. Be cautious of any builder who suggests starting without one.

10. How do you control quality?

Ask how they check reinforcement before concrete pours, test materials, cure concrete and blocks, and waterproof wet areas. Quality control should be a process, not a promise.

11. What happens if things change or go wrong?

The contract should explain how variations are priced and approved, how delays are handled and how disputes are resolved.

12. What happens after handover?

Ask about the defects-liability period and how quickly they respond to issues after you move in.

Red flags

• They can't show you a completed project in person.
• The quote is dramatically lower than others for the same BOQ.
• They push for a large advance before any work starts.
• They suggest building without a permit "to save time".
• There's no written contract, or it's vague.
• Communication is slow or evasive before you've even signed.

How to compare quotes fairly

Quotes can look very different simply because they include different things. Put them side by side against the same scope:

In this example, Quote B might look cheapest, but it excludes major items and demands a large advance, which is the classic recipe for disputes later. Always ask builders to price the same BOQ, and list every exclusion.

What a good construction contract includes

• The parties, the site and a clear description of the works
• The drawings, specifications and BOQ that form part of the contract
• The contract price, and what it includes and excludes
• A milestone payment schedule
• The start date, programme and completion date
• How variations (changes) are requested, priced and approved
• Reporting obligations (frequency and format)
• Quality standards and inspection arrangements
• Defects liability period and retention
• Insurance and site safety responsibilities
• How disputes are resolved

Retention and defects liability

Many construction contracts hold back a small percentage of each payment (often around 5%) as retention. Part is released at practical completion and the rest at the end of the defects liability period, typically several months after handover, once any defects have been fixed. Retention gives the builder a strong incentive to return and put things right.

Contractor vs design-and-build

With a traditional approach, you hire an architect to design and then hire a separate builder. This can work, but gaps between designer and builder often lead to disputes and extra costs.

With design-and-build, one company handles design and construction under a single contract. You get one point of accountability, earlier cost certainty and a team that designs with buildability in mind. That's how Rumah Kreatif works.

Questions to ask Rumah Kreatif

We welcome every question on this list. Ask to see our projects, speak to past clients and review a sample BOQ and contract. Then explore our residential and commercial construction services. If you already have a builder, take a look at our independent project management service.

Book a free consultation and put us to the test.