The Ghana Chapter of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA Ghana) has successfully held its first National Stakeholders’ Gathering and Masterclass, bringing together industry professionals, policymakers, and key stakeholders to deliberate on the advancement of facility management in Ghana.
The event, hosted by the President of IFMA Ghana, Architect Samson Opare Agyeman, served as a strategic platform to foster collaboration, strengthen partnerships, and enhance professional standards within the industry.
In his opening remarks, Architect Agyeman outlined the purpose of the forum, emphasizing the need for stronger engagement among stakeholders and the importance of strategic partnerships in positioning facility management as a critical driver of national development.
He noted that sustainable infrastructure delivery depends heavily on effective and structured facility management systems.
One of the key presentations was delivered by Pamela Korsah the host, who spoke on company building within the facility management sector.
She highlighted the global evolution of the profession and stressed that no building can function optimally without professional facility management practices in place.
According to her, internationally, facility management has become a strategic function that directly impacts efficiency, safety, and long-term asset preservation.
Discussions during the masterclass traced the historical development of the profession, noting that in the 1980s, facility management was largely associated with basic services such as cleaning and maintenance.
Today, however, it has expanded to cover housing, healthcare infrastructure, government facilities, capacity building, sustainability planning, and the establishment of operational standards.
Speakers emphasized that nearly 50 percent of a building’s total lifecycle cost may go into maintenance and emergency repairs, underscoring the need for proactive and well-structured management systems.
It was also highlighted that facility managers, formerly referred to as estate managers, now occupy more strategic roles within organizations, contributing to governance, risk management, and operational excellence.
The event also featured an address by John Vinken all the way from Canada, who shared international insights drawn from over 14 years of leadership experience within the association.
He spoke about the organization of IFMA globally and the benefits of structured professional bodies in providing members with access to training, certification programs, and international best practices.
According to him, masterclasses and continuous professional development initiatives are essential for strengthening competence within the industry. He further noted that access to global networks and knowledge-sharing platforms enables professionals to adopt innovative solutions and maintain world-class standards.
The speaker referenced awards and recognitions received within the global IFMA community and encouraged Ghanaian professionals to pursue excellence and greater international visibility.
Architecture Atsu Amenyo was also acknowledged for his contributions toward training and professional development initiatives aimed at building capacity within the chapter.
Throughout the forum, participants underscored that the main objective of the gathering was to promote collaboration among professionals working across various sectors. There were strong calls for more structured training opportunities, enhanced professional cooperation, and deeper stakeholder engagement to improve service delivery.
The President of IFMA Ghana expressed gratitude to the panelists, organizers, present media houses, and all participants for contributing to the success of the stakeholders’ gathering.
He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to organizing more training sessions, masterclasses, and strategic engagements to elevate the standards of facility management in Ghana.
The event concluded with a collective call for sustained collaboration, continuous learning, and strengthened professional partnerships to ensure that facility management plays a transformative role in national infrastructure development.
Source:
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