Purpose -The Ghanaian banking industry has over the last 20 years witnessed tremendous growth to the extent that rural banks are now expanding their activities into urban centres. Hitherto, rural banks operated in rural and peri-urban areas in Ghana, but nowadays, there is an upsurge of rural banks activities in the urban centres of Ghana; and, they operate from rented premises, most of which are existing buildings in the urban areas. To meet the banking demands and the urban banking competitions such as the introduction of new technologies and regulations, the rural banks endeavour to expand (refurbish) the old/existing buildings with inherent adaptation and retrofitting challenges. Even though, adaptation and retrofit projects may not be popular in Ghana at large scales, this paper through combined methodology of constructive dialogue, case studies and condition survey approaches presents rural banks projects in Ghana as case studies of refurbishment and maintenance to "unearth" and resonate some key challenges of managing adaptation and retrofits in Ghana for future effective projects management solutions during their conception and execution. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach -Through combined methodology of constructive dialogue, case studies and condition survey approaches this paper presents rural banks projects in Ghana as case studies of refurbishment and maintenance to "unearth" and resonate some key challenges of adaptation and retrofit projects. Findings -The condition survey revealed unprecedented infrastructural drive by rural banks throughout Ghana and their desire to penetrate the urban areas as well. However, this drive unfortunately as it appeared, is not informed and carried out within the confines and dictates of existing legislations in Ghana. Again, it was found that adaptations and retrofitting will improve and integrate the rural banks in the urban economy through prudent project management practices. Research limitations/implications -Availability of local researches and literature on adaptations and retrofitting as project management practices in Ghana. Practical implications -Retrofitting and adaptation projects in Ghana is crucial for project management practices on low-impact building as Ghana faces energy challenges. Social implications -This research brings to bear realistic programme to build capacity of personnel to strategically integrate the rural banks into the central banking system of Ghana as well as project management practices through better and effective monitoring for social, ethical and equity impacts of their project managers. Originality/value -Apparently, adaptation and retrofit projects are not be popular in Ghana at large scales and this is the first time an academic paper of a kind has been written to guide and manage future adaptation and retrofit projects during their conception and execution as well as project management practices in general.

This paper explores building materials preferences in the warm-humid and hot-dry climates in Ghana. Using a combination of closed and open-ended questionnaires, a total of 1281 participants (473 adults and 808 youth) were recruited in Ghana in a two-month survey in Kumasi and Tamale representing the warm-humid and hot-dry climates respectively. Sampling was purposive. The sample elements were chosen because they typically represented the communities of our case studies. Through hypothesis testing, the Pearson Chi-square results indicate a significant positive association between aesthetics and study areas (χ 2 =155.65; df =4; N =1278; p < 0.05) with an asymptotic significance level of 0. 000 (p = 0. 0005). The findings indicate aesthetics generally appear to be major considerations instead of climatic considerations in the choice of building materials in Kumasi and Tamale. This paper concludes that, the preference for building materials in Ghana points to neglect of climatic considerations due to aesthetics influences and apparent lack of enforcement of building rules and regulations. This paper recommends a review of the National Building Regulations-Legislative Instruments 1630 to reflect current trends in architecture and building developments.

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