GCTU’s Centre for Strategic Business and Professional Development (CSBPD) has conducted a four-day in-house training programme on Facility Management for staff of Bui Power Authority (BPA), held from 15th to 18th July 2025, at the Authority’s Head Office in the Airport Residential Area.
The in-house training programme, attended by selected staff from the Authority’s Estate Department, was aimed at equipping them with expertise in facility management, thereby enhancing the Authority’s overall operational efficiency.
Speaking at the event, the Human Resource Manager in charge of Training and Development/Industrial Relations, Mrs. Bridget Asante-Addai, emphasized BPA’s commitment to harnessing natural resources for energy generation in a manner that drives Ghana’s socio-economic development, prioritizing safety, reliability and cost-efficiency in all operations. She further added that the Authority’s vision of becoming a leader in the renewable energy industry in the sub-region underscores its commitment to sustainable energy solutions and its ambition to play a pivotal role in West Africa’s transition to clean energy. Mrs. Asante-Addai said that the Authority’s facilities require well-trained staff to manage its operations efficiently. “I believe that having staff who can effectively manage our facilities will significantly extend their lifespan,” she elaborated.
The training programme was expertly facilitated by the President of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Ghana Chapter, Mr. Sampson Opare-Agyemang. He explained that Facility Management encompasses multiple disciplines that ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology to make the organization more effective. He further added that FM is an emerging profession in Ghana, stressing its growing relevance in today’s world.
Mr. Opare-Agyemang highlighted the skills and competencies a facility manager must acquire, including interpersonal relationships, procurement and negotiation, time management, project management, research and teamwork. According to him, organizations sometimes assign facility management roles to individuals without the requisite expertise, which can lead to challenges.
Emphasizing on Strategic Facility Planning (SFP), an Officer at IFMA, Mrs. Gloria Quansemah Williams, explained SFP as a process that aligns an organization’s facilities with its strategic business objectives to drive success. She elaborated that strategies must be adaptable and dynamic to navigate constant change. Mrs. Williams further added that implementing new ideas through experimentation and testing is key to driving innovation, validating assumptions and refining approaches. Mrs. Williams highlighted the facility planning process, including:
- Understanding the organization’s mission, vision, values, goals and financial performance
- Use of analytical techniques, such as SWOT, SCAN, scenario planning to explore possible future
- Taking actions as planned and implemented
- Developing plans that meet long-range needs of the organization.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the CSBPD Director, Mrs. Araba Hackman Akanji, emphasized the Centre’s ongoing dedication to providing top-notch, non-academic programmes that foster leadership development, enhance professional skills and offer specialized industry training.
In the closing remarks delivered on behalf of the Director of CSBPD by the Professional Programmes Coordinator at CSBPD, Mr. Louis Akorli, highlighted GCTU’s diverse academic offerings, spanning Diplomas to PhDs and urged participants to explore further education prospects at GCTU. He extended his gratitude to the facilitators for sharing their expertise through the training programme and to the participants for their active engagement which contributed to the success of the training.
The training programme concluded on a successful note, with participants earning certificates that recognize their newly-enhanced skills and knowledge.
