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World Facility Management Day: IFMA-Ghana touts achievement
Mr Sampsong Opare-Agyemang addressing the press
The President of the Ghana Chapter of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA-Ghana), Mr. Sampson Opare-Agyemang, has expressed satisfaction at the progress made by the association since its inception but says there is work to be done as practitioners prepare to mark this year’s World Facility Management (FM) Day.
Speaking at the launch of the event in Accra last Friday, he said the association has over the years equipped experts with the essentials of facility management and continued to encourage educational institutions to roll out programmes in facility management.
The overall objective of the training, advocacy and other initiatives of the association, according to him, was to ensure that there were enough professionals to safeguard the longevity of private and public facilities in the country.
He said the association had trained and certified about 99 facility managers across the country and continued to engage the government and institutions on the essence of facility management and the services practitioners render property owners.
IFMA-Ghana marks this year’s World Facility Management Day on May 10, 2023 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi) on the theme: “Facility Management Making a Real Difference in Ghana.” Speakers from academia, government and other stakeholders are expected to make presentations, interact and share experiences relevant to the industry.
The occasion, Mr Opare-Agyemang said, was to celebrate the achievement of the facility management community and the impact the profession continues to make across sectors.
“World FM day is a day of recognition for facility managers and the entire profession. It is a time to celebrate the heroes behind the scenes of the built environment and share well-deserved thanks for keeping our facilities healthy, safe and productive.”
“The challenge today in our built environment is not just bad maintenance culture but lack of trained manpower and the lack of understanding of the value of facility management by government, business owners and financial institutions,” he said.
Mr Opare-Agyemang, therefore, stressed the need to incorporate routine maintenance culture to ensure sustainability of private and public properties.
IFMA Ghana is part of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). Founded in 1980, IFMA is the most widely recognized International Association for facility management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in 104 countries.
IFMA Offers professional advancement through credentialing programs and provides a wide range of educational courses, from entry-level programs to those for highly experienced facility managers.
The Ghana Chapter, approved in August 2009, currently has over 300 members working at various institutions.
By Ernest Nutsugah
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
