Veep Calls for Renewed Social Contract as National Labour Conference Opens

Vice President H.E Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for a renewed social contract between government, employers and workers to safeguard industrial peace and accelerate Ghana’s economic transformation, declaring that sustainable development depends on dialogue, fairness and shared responsibility.

Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the opening of the 2026 National Labour Conference in Ho, the Vice President said the annual gathering provides an important platform for addressing the concerns of labour and employers while shaping the future of work in Ghana.

She urged stakeholders to pay greater attention to workers in the informal economy, who constitute the majority of the country’s workforce but often lack adequate labour protection.

She noted that the government’s recent economic reforms are beginning to produce results despite global economic challenges and stressed the need to preserve industrial stability while sustaining the country’s recovery.

She announced that the government intends to limit major public sector renegotiations in 2026, opting instead for targeted improvements in selected allowances as broader reforms to the national emoluments system are completed.

The Vice President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting pension funds, implementing the proposed Labour Bill 2026 and advancing the 24-hour economy policy to expand employment opportunities.

She urged organised labour to champion productivity, innovation and ethical work culture while employers continue investing in decent jobs and improved working conditions.

Chairman of the Conference, Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, described labour as the foundation of national development, quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. that “all labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.”

He said the annual conference strengthens dialogue among government, employers and workers and provides an opportunity to build consensus on issues affecting Ghana’s labour front and economic stability.

He commended all social partners for their continued commitment to industrial peace and national development.

Earlier, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, said the conference was organised as a strategic platform to deepen social dialogue, promote industrial peace and build consensus on critical labour and economic issues.

He said Ghana’s economic transformation cannot be achieved by the government alone but requires strong collaboration among government, employers and organised labour based on mutual respect and shared national purpose.

Dr Pelpuo observed that Ghana’s labour front has remained relatively peaceful over the past one and a half years due to continuous engagement among the tripartite partners.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening dialogue mechanisms to ensure strikes become a last resort rather than the norm.

The Minister also highlighted the recently launched Ghana Decent Work Country Programme (2026–2030), developed with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which focuses on creating productive employment, expanding inclusive social protection and strengthening compliance with international labour standards.

He announced that stakeholders would soon reconvene to review the Labour Bill 2026 before its submission to Parliament.

President of the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), Nana Dr Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodie, called for policies that improve productivity while addressing Ghana’s housing deficit through affordable home ownership.

He proposed a national housing programme aimed at constructing 1.8 million affordable homes, arguing that such an initiative could generate hundreds of thousands of jobs annually while stimulating manufacturing, construction and related industries.

He urged the government to leverage the country’s improving macroeconomic indicators to establish long-term mortgage financing that would make home ownership more accessible to Ghanaian workers.

According to him, affordable housing is not only a social intervention but also a productive investment that enhances labour market efficiency and enterprise competitiveness.

On behalf of organised labour, Trades Union Congress (TUC) Secretary-General Mr Joshua Ansah described industrial harmony as more than the absence of strikes, insisting that genuine harmony is built on trust, fairness, dialogue and respect for workers’ rights.

While acknowledging the importance of continued engagement, he reminded stakeholders that the right to strike remains a legitimate labour right when negotiations fail.

Mr Ansah called for the early completion of the Labour Bill review to ensure the new legislation reflects the views of organised labour and adequately protects workers.

He further advocated greater investment in skills development, social protection, decent work and labour-intensive industrialisation to ensure that economic growth translates into improved livelihoods for Ghanaian workers.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Director for Anglophone West Africa and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Dr Vanessa Phala, praised Ghana’s long-standing commitment to social dialogue, describing the country as a model for industrial relations on the continent.

She said the conference aligns closely with the newly launched Decent Work Country Programme and would help shape policies that respond to emerging labour market challenges.

Dr Phala urged participants to ensure that discussions address the needs of workers in the informal economy, where the majority of Ghanaians are employed.

She highlighted the importance of skills development, fair wages, gender equality, social protection and labour law reforms in preparing the country for digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the future of work.

She reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to supporting Ghana in implementing the outcomes of the conference and strengthening decent work across all sectors.

The 2026 National Labour Conference, held under the theme “Strengthening Industrial Harmony as a Catalyst for Accelerated Economic Growth and National Development,” has brought together government officials, employers, organised labour, development partners and other social partners to deliberate on policies that will strengthen labour relations, improve productivity and promote inclusive economic growth in Ghana.

Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/