Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research, 2020, 8, 14-29 https://www.scirp.org/journal/jbcpr ISSN Online: 2328-4897 ISSN Print: 2328-4889 DOI: 10.4236/jbcprt.2020.81002 Jan. 10, 2020 14 Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research An Exploratory Study into Social Cost Considerations in Ghanaian Construction Industry James Cofie Danku * , Theophilus Adjei-Kumi, Bernard Kofi Baiden, Kofi Agyekum Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa Abstract Construction causative nuisances, inconveniences, interferences and disruptions to the routine economic and social life patterns of adjacent or neighboring communities are referred to as social cost. This study explores the understanding and level of consideration of social cost by construction professionals in Ghana. Relevant literature sources are reviewed to define, rationalize and classify social cost. The study used the survey approach with a set of questionnaires addressed to construction contractors and professionals to gather the data. It was realized that not much consideration is given to social cost at the tender stage of the construction process. The five factors hindering social cost inclusion in tendering are “difficulty in allocating social costs”, “governmental interferences”, “lack of historical data”, “lack of appreciation of social costs” and “low stakeholder agitation”. The paper advocated for integration of social cost into the tendering process. The study will serve as a foundation to design a social cost assessment system at the pre-contract stage. Keywords Social Cost, Construction Industry, Construction Professionals, Community, Ghana 1. Introduction The construction industry is pivotal for the socio-economic development of a country. Its diverse products are located in urban as well as rural areas. They include factories and houses; schools, offices and hospitals; social and sports How to cite this paper: Danku, J.C., Adjei-Kumi, T., Baiden, B.K. and Agyekum, K. (2020) An Exploratory Study into Social Cost Considerations in Ghanaian Construction Industry. Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research, 8, 14-29. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbcprt.2020.81002 Received: November 30, 2019 Accepted: January 7, 2020 Published: January 10, 2020 Copyright © 2020 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access