Rethinking office building rehabilitation: perceptions of stakeholder influence and institutional norms in Ghana

Purpose Studies on office building rehabilitation often drive both technical and financial considerations. However, neglected institutional and perceptual dynamics have shaped rehabilitation decisions in office buildings in Ghana. This study bridges the gap by assessing the effects of stakeholder perceptions and institutional norms on office building rehabilitation in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach A mixed research design was employed in this study. Data were purposively gathered from 334 stakeholders, including public office buildings, facility managers and HVAC professionals serving municipal and metropolitan services, and building users across Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and a thematic analysis, five constructs were analyzed: perceived risk, rehabilitation priority, trust in governance, stakeholder influence and institutional norms. Findings The model explained 97.5% of the variance in rehabilitation prioritization. Institutional norms regarding prioritization affected stakeholder influence indirectly, and governance trust regarding prioritization contributed to the perceived risk of office building rehabilitation. Stakeholder influence emerged as the most significant predictor of office rehabilitation decisions in public office buildings in Ghana. Practical implications The findings suggest the need for institutionalize accessible feedback systems with transparent communication strategies, flexible procurement procedures institutionalized accessible feedback systems with transparent communication strategies, flexible procurement procedures and decentralized financial systems. Furthermore, data access, responsiveness and transparency must be adhered to in order to elevate risk perception and drive decision-making in office rehabilitation. Originality/value Quantification of institutional dimensions alongside behavioural and perceptual dimensions provides new insights into participatory infrastructure governance in developing contexts.