Labour Minister seeks stronger workplace safety standards
He said a productive economy cannot be sustained if workers are constantly exposed to unsafe conditions that threaten their health and wellbeing.
Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, the Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment in Ghana, has emphasized the importance of enhancing workplace safety standards as part of the country's drive for economic growth. Pelpuo underscored that a thriving economy cannot thrive if workers are constantly subjected to hazardous conditions that jeopardize their health and well-being.
Ahead of the 2026 Health, Environment, Safety and Security (HESS) Leadership Conference, Pelpuo highlighted that improving working conditions is not solely a labor concern but a vital component in establishing a secure and sustainable economy. He stressed that workers require assurance they can perform their duties safely and return home to their families in good health.
Pelpuo also expressed the Ministry's enthusiasm for the creation of Ghana's proposed Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill, which aims to establish a robust legal framework for workplace health and safety. He recognized the HESS community as a crucial partner in the government's endeavor to augment safety standards across both public and private workplaces.
The 2026 HESS Leadership Conference, themed "Building Leadership that Protects Lives, Preserves the Environment and Secures the Future," will convene stakeholders from various sectors, including mining, petroleum, manufacturing, food, consultancy, and government. The conference's Advisory Council Member, Prince Obeng Afful, pledged the organization's commitment to bolstering Ghana's occupational safety framework.
Afful expressed the conference's potential to foster the sharing of industry professionals' expertise and firsthand experiences to shape the proposed OSH Bill. The conference is anticipated to yield recommendations aimed at bolstering occupational safety, safeguarding the environment, and fostering healthier and more sustainable work environments nationwide.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
