Madam Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, Deputy Minister of Works, Housing And Water Resources, has urged developers in the public and private sectors to include facility management in the life-cycle of building and construction projects.
Speaking at an Awards Dinner of the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) Ghana Chapter in Accra, she said stakeholders should not disregard the role of professional facility managers in ensuring long-term functionality and integrity of public and private structures.
Emphasising routine maintenance of facilities, Ms Tetteh-Agbotui said employing the services of facility managers would be an asset instead of liability for property developers and owners.
“Across the country, public buildings and homes stand in disrepair: leaking roofs, broken elevators, collapsed drains, and failed plumbing, rendering them unsafe, inefficient, and often unusable.
“The root of this crisis is systemic: facility management is excluded from the project development cycle…A building designed without operational foresight is a building destined for early obsolescence,” she observed.
The Minister recommended that individual and public architectural plans should make provisions for maintenance and train personnel for regular upkeep of facilities.
“It is essential to understand that housing is not a one-time transaction. A home handed over without a maintenance and operational plan is already on the path to decline,” Ms Tetteh-Agbotui stated, emphasising the importance of facility management in sustainable housing delivery.
The Ministry had initiated review of the housing policy, for which facility management and maintenance would be a key feature, she said.
She encouraged other public institutions to revise project guidelines to “mandate integrated facility management plans from inception,” just as environmental and structural assessments were required.
Commending the contributions of the professionals, Ms Tetteh-Agbotui, also the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, urged members of the Association to strengthen partnerships and sustain advocacy and public education on the importance of facility management.
Mr Sampson Opare, President, IFMA Ghana Chapter, highlighted training of 49 Facility Management Professionals and eight lSustainability Facility Professionals as some achievements of the Association in the year under review.
He said the Association would continue to collaborate with the government, academia, and other stakeholders to advance the cause of facility management (FM) in the country.
“With Ghana continuing to expand public facilities, the need for competent FM professionals has never been more urgent. Ghana must not build for today; we must build for sustainable use, longevity, and future resilience.
“When facility management is done well, assets last longer, safety improves, sustainability goals are met, and operational costs reduce significantly,” he stated.
The International Facility Management Association is the world’s foremost association for these professionals, supporting over 23,000 members globally.
Since the establishment of the Ghana Chapter in 2010, the Association continues to champion the facility management profession through education, research, networking, and other initiatives.
New members of the Association were inducted at the ceremony while existing members and corporate institutions were recognised for their outstanding works. Mr Augustine Affum Sarpong was adjudged the Facility Manager of the Year.