Facilities Management (FM) as an industry is in its infancy but extremely important to the Ghanaian economy given our not-so-glamorous maintenance culture.

The country’s infrastructure deficit, which according to government sources requires US$1.5billion per anum over a ten-year period to address, has brought into perspective the role of emerging indigenous facilities management companies in the country.

Research tells how the growth of businesses set the base for emergence of a FM industry. It was during the seventies that the office workplace first started to evolve into what the world knows today. As the office continued to evolve, so the need for someone to control and look after these new facilities began to grow. Subsequently, facilities management was born.

However, it was not until the early eighties that this new industry sector was formally recognised with establishment of the International Facilities Management Association.

Today, the facilities management sector is recognised by all major players within the business world as being vital to survival.

In the formative years of facilities management, much of the work was the responsibility of internal departments. The majority of organisations preferred to handle the management of this area themselves, without the input of outside professionals.

The major benefit with controlling facilities internally is the added degree of control afforded the organisation in question.

However, this is offset by limits imposed by budgetary restraints and the often difficult juggling of personnel resources. As the worldwide economy began to bite hard on business resources, a trend for outsourcing facilities management requirements to outside professionals started to emerge.

One of the areas that has seen the most change in how facilities management operates involves the actual services which are provided. In days gone by, most of the attention would be focused on providing ‘hard’ services such as the maintenance of buildings or repairing office equipment. Today those services have expanded greatly to also incorporate the provision of ‘soft services’.

This type of service can be said to include the provision of personnel to run reception areas or manage internal post room services. The modern-day facilities manager now has to be competent in all service areas, both operational and strategic.

Facilities Management in Ghana

The emergence of indigenous facilities management (FM) companies has brought professionalism into the country’s provision of FM services.

Aba Asante-Koranchie, Facilities Manager-UT Properties, told B&FT that: “The emergence of indigenous facilities management companies is a very positive development. It is an opportunity that allows for skills development and deployment, particularly for professionals within the built environment or industry.

“These include Architects, Land Economists, Estate Managers, Engineers as well as our Artisans. It is also positive as it shows that there is a concerted effort by Ghanaians to be a part of a growing global industry.”

Like many new industries, indigenous facilities management companies are confronted with many challenges. Mrs. Asante-Koranchie acknowledges that: “The industry is a young one, as compared to the well-defined professions such as the legal, pharmaceutical and medical ones. As such, there are not many seasoned professionals.

Additionally, legislations and industry regulations are not locally standardized, therefore some players within the FM industry do not operate with the needed professionalism. A full scale requires some level of financing and trained skills for management of modern facilities within the infrastructure. It is a growing industry with much potential. FM in Ghana refers to or means different things to different sectors among the industry players. Integrated FM firms such as UT Properties are few.

The present FM market in the country is relatively small, with the concentration in large cities. “There is not much activity beyond the capital city of Ghana. The growth of an industry has a direct correlation with physical infrastructural development, level of awareness to the existence of such services among others. There is much potential in Accra. Kumasi and Takoradi seem to be naturally the next markets in Ghana. All things being equal, the FM industry has good growth potential,” she said.

Though some companies are sceptical about engaging the services of professional facilities management companies, the benefits from allowing trained professionals to handle all things not part of a company’s core business make it worthwhile.

Engaging a professional FM company allows companies to focus on their core functionalities, ensuring better turnaround time for services. Knowledge of the industry ensures that FM companies adhere to regulations, thereby reducing risks associated with legal, health or other activities that can negatively impact their clients. FM companies are also able to pre-finance some of these critical activities for clients who engage them as Strategic FM partners.

FM companies provide excellent advisory services and high level deliveries. They coordinate activities to ensure highest and best use for clients’ properties.

“We at UTP are Members of Professional Associations which certify our service standards. We are trained in Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, and therefore have both local and international expertise experience. We are currently pursuing ISO certification, which is also for Health and Safety. This indicates global acceptable standards that an indigenous firm aspires to, assuring clients of technical competencies.

“Some of the major companies for which we render FM services include: L’Oreal West Africa, Huawei Technologies (SA), UT Group, First National Bank, Vodafone Ghana, General Electric Incorporated, and Roche Products among others.

“Indigenous FM companies like UT Properties offer diverse support services. These include Office and Residential Facilities Management -- ranging from Tenancy Management, Building and Property Audits, Health and Safety, Preventive Maintenance Activities, Advisory Services, Front Desk Services, Hospitality Services, and Office relocations etc.

“For 2016, what are the company’s plans in terms of the provision of FM services in Ghana?

We believe we are poised to offer quality service at the most competitive pricing and turnaround times for firms looking to outsource or engage us for these purposes. We, in this year, are dwelling strongly on systems improvement and making it very simple for our clients to engage us at all levels of need.

“Clients should look for FM firms that are able to help them concentrate on their core business, while giving them value for money in terms of helping to minimise recurrent infrastructure and related services costs. We encourage all clients to make UT Properties Limited the first point of call. We are here for them. A truly, one-stop property solution centre,” Mrs. Asante-Koranchie said.