The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment has taken a major step toward promoting safe and healthy workplaces with the launch of Ghana’s maiden National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Profile.
The document serves as a foundation for developing a comprehensive national policy and legislation on occupational safety and health.
Launching the OSH Profile in Accra, the Minister, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, described the initiative as a historic milestone that underscores government’s commitment to strengthening workplace safety systems and protecting the wellbeing of Ghanaian workers.
He explained that the OSH Profile will form the basis for a National OSH Policy and legislation, aligning Ghana’s standards with international labour conventions and best practices.
“This launch marks a new phase in Ghana’s journey to institutionalize occupational safety and health,” Dr Pelpuo stated. “Our goal is to ensure that every worker, in every sector—formal or informal—operates in a safe, healthy, and dignified environment.”
The Minister also commended the development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the application of the Work in Fishing Convention (C188), describing it as another vital step toward protecting vulnerable workers.
“Our fishers feed the nation, and it is our responsibility to ensure that their working environment is safe and decent,” he said. “The SOP is a practical tool to make that commitment a reality.”
Representing the Ghana Employers Association, Alex Frimpong Amoah stressed the urgency of creating safer work environments across all sectors. He cited recent building collapses and workplace accidents as examples of preventable tragedies that hinder productivity and economic growth.
“We need to ensure that our workplaces are safe and conducive,” he noted. “Otherwise, it won’t help productivity or national development.”
Speaking on behalf of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Enoch Cudjoe explained that Ghana’s OSH Profile aligns with ILO Conventions 155 and 187, which provide global frameworks for promoting safe and healthy workplaces.
“This profile serves as a foundation for developing a national OSH policy,” he said. “We are very pleased that Ghana has reached this stage, and we hope the effort continues until the policy and accompanying programme are fully implemented.”
Delivering a presentation on the Profile, lead consultant Dr S. T. Odonkor said the document provides a roadmap for reform. He urged government to consolidate existing occupational safety laws into a single framework and establish a National Occupational Safety and Health Authority with legal powers to enforce compliance.
The Acting Chief Labour Officer, Dawuda Ibrahim Braimah, also highlighted the significance of the new SOP for the fishing sector, describing it as the first of its kind in West Africa. He explained that the framework seeks to safeguard the welfare and working conditions of Ghana’s fishers, one of the nation’s most vital yet vulnerable occupational groups.
“This document serves as a guide for inspections and ensures that the rights and safety of fishers are respected,” he said. “Ghana is proud to be the first country in the sub-region to develop such a framework under the convention.”
The launch of the OSH Profile and accompanying SOP marks a defining moment in Ghana’s occupational safety and health journey, reinforcing government’s resolve to build safer workplaces, protect lives, and foster sustainable productivity across all sectors.