Dr. Pelpuo expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He also interacted with the injured, offering words of encouragement and praying for their speedy recovery.

The Minister, who also serves as the Wa Central MP, assured affected families of the government’s continued support and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to promoting safety, dignity, and well-being in all employment and recruitment processes.

Meanwhile, the GAF has temporarily suspended the ongoing 2025/2026 recruitment exercise to implement additional safety measures and ensure a smooth and secure process.

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Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, the Wa Central MP said the delay was part of a broader problem with the government’s new payroll system.

He described it as a “system of renewal” aimed at avoiding future payment challenges.

“It’s the overall system of renewal so that you don’t run into a problem eventually that we are trying to solve,” he explained.

“It’s not about the fact that the money is not there right now, but it’s about the fact that you want to do it alongside all the others they are complaining about, so that we just have a completely addressed system.”

His comments come amid growing frustration from newly employed nurses and midwives who have been protesting over salary arrears.

Last Thursday, the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives staged a protest in Accra to demand payment of salaries for nearly 7,000 health workers who have worked without pay for close to 10 months.

The group said they received official postings in December 2024 after financial clearance was granted. While about 6,500 of their colleagues were paid in April 2025, thousands remain unpaid despite repeated appeals.

Dr Pelpuo acknowledged the frustration but insisted the issue was systemic and affected multiple categories of public workers, including ministers.

“Yeah, there’s a problem,” he admitted. “And if we can resolve ours, and newly employed nurses and teachers cannot resolve theirs, then there’s a problem. So it has to be done holistically, so everybody can be paid.”

The Minister noted that MPs who are not ministers have been receiving their salaries because the parliamentary payroll system is independent and already fully functional.

“But those who are members of parliament and non-ministers, the parliamentary system has been taking care of them,” he said.

“The parliamentary system is okay; it’s properly done and operational.”

When asked whether other Article 71 officeholders outside the executive arm had been paid, Dr Pelpuo said he could not confirm.

“No, I can’t tell,” he responded.

Dr Pelpuo emphasised that the government was not withholding payments because of a lack of funds but was reforming the system to ensure all categories of workers are treated equitably.

His revelation underscores the widespread nature of Ghana’s payroll challenges, which have left thousands — from nurses to cabinet ministers — waiting for their first salary nearly a year after the new administration took office.

Source: Myjoyonline

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He said it will not only address TEWU-TUC’s grievances but also the concerns of other unions threatening strike action.

According to the Minister, efforts are underway to reach out to TEWU leadership for further talks.

Speaking on JoyNews, he explained that tackling the demands individually would create more problems for the labour force in Ghana, and instead, a comprehensive approach is being considered.

“The Ministry of Finance is leading the effort to find a solution, and the government is hopeful that a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached.”

Dr. Rashid Pelpuo assured that the government is committed to addressing the concerns of all stakeholders and finding a solution that works for everyone.

TEWU-TUC has declared an indefinite strike over delayed Conditions of Service agreements, citing frustration over the lack of progress despite repeated engagements and follow-ups.

The strike will affect members in Technical and Public Universities, the Ghana Library Authority, and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.

Source: Myjoyonline 

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Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Monday, July 21, Dr Pelpuo highlighted the growing interest among Ghanaian youth in overseas job opportunities and emphasised the need for a structured system to manage this demand responsibly.

“I can see that young people are eager to join the system, and business owners are also quick to claim there are opportunities here and there. We have taken note of all that,” he stated.

A Collaborative Approach to Youth Employment

To address this, the Labour Ministry is partnering with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment to fast-track a national screening system for job seekers and employers.

“We are creating a system through which we can launch a portal that allows young people to apply. We will then interview them, identify those who are properly qualified and capable, and connect them with companies that can support their next level of development,” Dr Pelpuo explained.

According to him, a technology firm has already been contracted to develop the portal, and the platform is ready for launch.

“In the coming days, I will be meeting with the technical team. We are hiring a company that can work closely within the system to develop a portal. They have already developed it, I have examined it, and I believe it is very good. People can access the portal, be streamlined through the process, and then be forwarded to the National Youth Employment (NYE) Agency through the ministry. They will be interviewed, and we will select the types of candidates needed for deployment.”

Curbing Exploitation and Ensuring Protection

Dr Pelpuo expressed concern over the growing number of unauthorised foreign recruitment offers, warning that the government will no longer tolerate unregulated schemes that put young people at risk.

“We’ve gotten a lot of proposals from outside the country and we cannot take people out just like that,” he cautioned.

The Minister emphasised that all international recruitment involving Ghanaian workers must be carried out under legal and protective frameworks to safeguard their welfare.

“We will no longer allow young people to leave this country into the hands of people who will just use them the way they want, to the disadvantage of the young people and to national disadvantage,” he said.

Bilateral Agreements and MOUs

Dr Pelpuo further revealed that his ministry will require formal agreements with all foreign companies seeking to recruit Ghanaian labour.

“I will want to sign a memorandum of understanding with every company that is stepping in here seeking to take our young people outside. And we will cause the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sign a bilateral agreement with any country that wants to engage Ghanaians and take Ghanaian labour out.”

He stressed that these agreements will include provisions ensuring that Ghanaian workers are treated fairly under both Ghanaian and international labour regulations.

“We don’t like the situation where young people are out there working and they are conceived as slaves or servants when they should be seen as working people.”

Ongoing Talks with Romania

The Minister disclosed that the government is already in talks with Romania, where discussions are underway to formalise a memorandum of understanding regarding labour export arrangements.

The launch of the national job portal is part of the government’s broader strategy to create safer pathways for employment, both locally and abroad, while protecting Ghanaian workers from exploitation.

Source: MyJoyOnline

“Well, we are more than shocked. We are disturbed. We are worried that they could go into a decision of strike without much talk with us,” he said Monday night on JoyNews’ PM Express. “For a moment, you hear nurses are going on strike.”

The Wa Central MP said the strike, which has disrupted healthcare services across the country, was announced without adequate effort by GRNMA leadership to consult his ministry.

“I had a chat with the president of the Nurses and Midwives Association,” Dr. Pelpuo revealed. “I was complaining that they did not have the chance—the opportunity. They did not create the opportunity for me to have an interaction with them before the strike.”

The nurses and midwives are protesting a government proposal to defer implementation of their new conditions of service until 2026—a proposal the GRNMA has flatly rejected.

Dr. Pelpuo, however, believes the association acted too hastily, especially given the current economic situation and the administration’s willingness to engage with organised labour.

“I believe very strongly that if they started what they said they started a year ago or two years ago, this is a new administration,” he said.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure we have a stable economy, a stable society. We work with workers to get their full support for how we can run this country.”

The Minister noted that the strike undermines those efforts.

“I informed her that I wish we had had some conversation after she had had those kinds of conversations with other sector ministers or other stakeholders.”

Despite the impasse, Dr. Pelpuo said the government remains open to dialogue and a peaceful resolution. He emphasised that proper engagement is the only path forward.

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The bill, among other things, seeks to ensure that every worker receives the deserved dignity, fair treatment, and protection.

Dr. Pelpuo, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa Central, assured workers at the ministry on his first day in office that he would promote more dialogue and engagement with stakeholders to reduce labour unrest.

“Government will reinforce systems for dispute resolution, collective bargaining, and social dialogue to maintain industrial peace and productivity.

“I look forward to a broader dialogue with tripartite constituents in building consensus on matters of socio-economic importance,” he said.

Renewed Sense of Purpose

To match up to the challenges ahead, the minister promised to build the capacities of staff and strengthen the institutions of the ministry to improve service delivery.

Dr. Pelpuo appealed to the staff of the ministry to bring their expertise and knowledge to bear to effectively deliver on the ministry’s mandate.

“I ask you all to be neutral and non-partisan in your attitude towards work across all levels.

“I encourage us all to work as a team with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment,” he said.

The minister stated that he would rely on technical expertise to shape policies that would lead to the transformation of the sector and Ghana as a whole.

He assured workers that the government remains committed to creating decent jobs, protecting and improving the livelihoods of the workforce, increasing productivity, ensuring the sustainability of businesses, and accelerating economic growth.

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He clarified, however, that its adoption by the private sector remains optional.

Responding to questions during his vetting by the Appointments Committee, Dr. Pelpuo explained that the policy aims to strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for Ghanaians.

Committee member Patricia Appiagyei raised concerns about how the policy aligns with the current labor landscape.

Addressing her question, Dr. Pelpuo assured that the policy would be integrated effectively, with government support playing a critical role in achieving its objectives.

“The policy is designed to fix challenges and ensure government backing is strategically applied to drive success,” he stated.

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