Labour Minister Rashid Pelpuo has attributed Ghana’s relatively calm industrial climate and improving economic outlook to effective conflict management, worker commitment, and sustained investments in skills development, particularly in emerging green jobs.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on the AM Show on JoyNews, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment said the absence of major labour unrest over the past year is a key indicator of his ministry’s performance.
“One of the ways you measure achievement is the fact that we don’t have extreme labour agitations and conflicts that disrupt work. People are going to work,” he said.
Mr Pelpuo acknowledged that workers may still be dissatisfied with certain conditions, but stressed that his ministry’s core responsibility is to manage tensions before they escalate into nationwide disruptions.
“The purpose of my office and my ministry is to look at the tensions that arise and try to cool them down,” he explained.
He described the current labour front as “relatively quiet,” noting that workers across sectors, including mining and industry, remain committed to productivity.
“People are committed to work, increasing their energy, pushing Ghana to the next level, and you can see the results in everything we are doing,” he added.
According to him, labour stability has played a crucial role in maintaining economic confidence and continuity.
“Everything that happens, the economy is stable, everything is going on well. It is the labour force and what they project themselves into doing,” he said.
Beyond industrial harmony, the Minister pointed to ongoing training and skills development initiatives as another key measure of success. He said the government is actively preparing Ghanaian youth for emerging opportunities in the green and digital sectors.
“You can also measure our success by the training that is going on to upskill labour in the new green jobs,” he stated.
Mr Pelpuo revealed that several young people have already completed specialised training programmes, equipping them with skills for sectors that previously did not exist or were underdeveloped.
“There have been some training and passing out of young people in specific areas that they can go in and get jobs,” he noted.
He added that the ministry, working with youth-focused agencies, has rolled out multiple empowerment programmes aimed at tackling unemployment and preparing the workforce for future demands.
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