Abstract:
Buildings are great assets to individuals and the nation and can be regarded as an
economic asset, which must be maintained to ensure higher value. This study assessed
the impact of maintenance culture in constructions or buildings of public institutions in
Ghana, a case study of selected institutions in the Saboba District of Northern Region.
Questionnaires, interview schedule and observation were for data collection. The
analysis of the respondents’ responses was done researcher through combine method
system. The total population of 150 respondents were used for the study and was sampled
as follows: Staff of St. Joseph’ Technical Institute (SABTECH) 45, students of
SABTECH 65, Workers of Saboba Medical Centre/Ghana Health Service 23 and
Workers of Saboba District Assembly 17. Random sampling technique was used to
sample out 150 respondents from Workers of Saboba Medical Centre/Ghana Health
Service, workers of Saboba District Assembly and Students as well as staff of
SABTECH, who were administered with questionnaires personally by the researcher.
Interview was conducted on managers, maintenance officers and other stake holders and
observation made on services and building components of the institutions to gather data
for the study The objectives of the study were to; identify the maintenance deficiencies
of public buildings and the causes of poor maintenance, and to assess appropriate
maintenance culture of public institutions. The study revealed that; fire outbreak,
rainstorm and irregular maintenance practices were the major causes of damage of public
buildings. It was also revealed that most of the buildings had exposed and hanging
foundations, broken walls, cracks on floor screeds and most of the buildings had faded
paintings whilst some building roofs were partly ripped off with semi functioning or
faulty electrical/water fittings. The study also revealed that most maintenance
departments do not undertake regular inspections of buildings, do not have maintenance
budgets and also do not have laid down maintenance plans coupled with the tepid attitude
of staff towards maintenance request made by occupants. The study further shows that,
most institutions do not have annual maintenance schedules due to financial constraints.
The study recommends that maintenance departments should be well resourced to
undertake regular inspection for prompt maintenance, accept maintenance request from
occupants and finally government should make funds available for maintenance of public
buildings of District Assemblies and Saboba District in particular for workers to stay
peacefully in order to discharge their duties.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of CONSTRUCTION AND WOOD
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, Faculty of TECHNICAL EDUCATION,
submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba in
partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Technology
(Construction) degree.
JULY, 2014