Association seeks national standards for cleaning companies
The Chairperson of the Contract Cleaners Association of Ghana, Lorraine Ababio, has called for national cleaning standards as an antidote to some of the challenges of cleaning companies in the country.
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She said the absence of clear standards allowed for subpar practices and unprofessional behaviours to go on unchecked.
She said the CCAG in collaboration with International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) would continue to provide industry-wide regulations and certifications to guide members and promote professionalism in the industry.
Ms Ababio said this at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by indigenous cleaning company, Spaklean Limited.
She said it was unfortunate that cleaning professionals were often undervalued and disrespected, noting that they play a very crucial role in the economy.
She commended Spaklean for its stellar achievements over the years, describing the company as a ‘trailblazer’ in elevating the cleaning industry in Ghana to new levels of professionalism.
The stakeholder engagement, which was held on the theme ‘Raising the Bar,’ was meant to celebrate the achievement of the company and the contribution of its staff, clients, and the CCAG for the successes over the years.
Global certification
The Managing Director of Spaklean, Dinah Owusu-Kissi, for her part, disclosed that the company has successfully completed the renewal of its Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) certification with a higher compliance score.
The company scored 97 per cent compliance in the latest edition of the globally acclaimed CIMS certification for cleaning industry operators worldwide.
In 2021, when Spaklean emerged as the first company in Africa to be certified, it scored 95 per cent compliance.
Mrs Owusu-Kissi said the certification was an assurance that offices and buildings that Spaklean managed were maintained at the highest hygiene standards.
She explained that to get the certification, an independent, accredited assessor normally verifies the firm’s compliance with the industry standard for quality systems, service delivery, human resources, health, safety and environmental stewardship and management commitment.
She said the certification was issued by ISSA, the leading trade association for the cleaning industry worldwide, to compliant companies and required renewal every two years to assure sustainable compliance.
Following the recertification, she said Spaklean would continue to issue a CIMS Certified Building certificate to clients as a quality service pledge of commitment to service a building in accordance with international standards.
Green cleaning
Also speaking at the meeting, the Purchasing Manager, Indirect Spend, of Barry Callebaut Ghana, Franklin Ofosu, observed that Spaklean had raised the bar on cleaning and hygiene services at the factory.
He, however, charged the company to also raise the bar to meet the increasing demand for sustainable sourcing by going green.
The ABSA Head of Facilities Management, Augustine Affum Sarpong, also joined the call, indicating that ABSA, at its head office had commenced waste segregation in line with sustainability demands and would soon extend this to various branches.
In response, the Managing Director of Spaklean called on clients to provide the needed support by paying sustainable commercial fees so that cleaning companies could invest in sustainable cleaning products and equipment.
She said Spaklean Limited was determined to pursue the CIMS Green Building certification for companies that were ready to go green.