Ghana risks paying significantly more over the lifetime of its buildings and public infrastructure unless it improves professional facility management and moves away from repairing assets only after they fail, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has warned.
Michael Geary, Chief Executive Officer of the association, said Ghana needed to align its facility management practices with internationally recognised standards as the country’s stock of commercial, institutional and public buildings continued to grow.
His warning draws attention to an often overlooked part of infrastructure economics: the cost of keeping buildings and equipment functional long after construction has been completed.
When public and private assets are poorly maintained, they deteriorate faster and require more frequent repairs, rehabilitation or replacement. Over time, this can reduce the value of the original investment and place additional pressure on businesses and government.
Improper maintenance, therefore, can amount to a form of capital destruction.
Facility management has traditionally been viewed largely as a support function involving cleaning, security and routine repairs. But modern buildings are far more complex, with energy systems, mechanical and electrical equipment, water use, workplace safety and environmental performance all affecting how much it costs to operate them.
Geary urged facility managers to adopt more preventive and technology driven approaches that can identify faults before they develop into costly failures.
Effective asset management programmes, he said, can also help extend the lifespan of mechanical and electrical systems, reducing the frequency with which major equipment needs to be repaired or replaced.
Energy management is another area where professional facility management could make a difference, particularly as electricity remains a significant operating expense for many Ghanaian businesses.
Technology based monitoring systems can help identify excessive energy consumption and allow building operators to address inefficiencies before they translate into higher operating costs.
The push for professional standards could also create new employment opportunities by developing the specialised skills needed to manage increasingly sophisticated commercial and public infrastructure.
For property developers, the argument also points to a change in how buildings are assessed.
Rather than focusing mainly on construction costs and the initial rental or sale value, buildings should be assessed over their entire lifecycle. A property with lower operating costs, reliable systems and recognised management standards is more likely to remain commercially competitive over a longer period.
That can affect occupancy rates, property valuations and investment returns.
The wider policy question is whether Ghana’s approach to development places enough emphasis on preserving infrastructure after it has been built.
Public discussions about infrastructure often focus on securing financing, constructing and commissioning new projects, while less attention is paid to what happens to those assets five, 10 or even 20 years later.
Stronger facility management standards would not, on their own, resolve Ghana’s infrastructure financing challenges. But they could help ensure that money already invested in buildings and infrastructure produces value for longer.
For businesses, this could mean lower operating costs and more reliable facilities. For property owners, it could provide greater protection for asset values. For government, better maintenance could reduce the financial burden associated with premature deterioration and repeated rehabilitation.
The message from the facility management sector is straightforward: building infrastructure is only the beginning. Keeping those assets productive and functional is what protects the investment over time.
By Martha Seyram Jackson
