Speaking at an orientation session for the officers in Accra, the Chairman of the Special Task Force for Inspection and Compliance Health and Safety, Dr. Daniel Ayikwei, reminded participants that their role goes beyond routine inspection.

He described their assignment as a national service aimed at safeguarding lives, protecting investments, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

“You are health and safety representatives,” he said. “When something happens, it is your duty to find out what caused it. You must identify the root cause and ensure that it never happens again.”

Dr. Ayikwei cautioned the officers against allowing financial interests to interfere with their responsibilities.

“Please, don’t go out there thinking about how much money you can make,” he said. “We want officers who are committed to serving Ghana, not those who seek to collect money from companies. That would be unfair to your conscience and to the country.”

He emphasized that inspections should be conducted in a professional and non-confrontational manner.

“You are not going out there to fight or intimidate anyone,” he stated. “Just ask the right questions and document what you see. The system will process your findings and take the necessary follow-up action.”

The Chairman further warned that any report of misconduct, bribery, or extortion would be thoroughly investigated and sanctioned.

“If we receive intelligence that an officer has taken money instead of doing the right thing, disciplinary action will follow. We cannot afford to lose public trust,” he stressed.

Touching on their legal mandate, Dr. Ayikwei explained that each officer has been duly authorised to act under an official directive endorsed by the sector minister, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, as well as the Chief Director, and the Chairman.

“This is your legal authority. Wherever you go, if anyone challenges your presence, show them your mandate. You have the power to act,” he affirmed.

The session also included practical guidance on field operations. Officers were trained to focus on basic inspection protocols such as verifying employee records, assessing workplace safety systems, and ensuring employer compliance with statutory health and safety regulations.

Dr. Ayikwei encouraged officers to view their role as critical to national development. “Every inspection you conduct contributes to saving lives and promoting productivity,” he concluded.

Source: Public Affairs Unit, MLJE

ALSO READ:

• 10 million youth to join labour force by 2040: Finance Ministry calls for bold…

• Ministry of Labour, YEA inaugurate committees for Work Abroad Programme

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.

The programme is designed to equip thousands of young Ghanaians with globally recognised vocational skills.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, and Solomon Daniel Amarh Laryea, representing CG Technical Services CEO Charles Reynolds.

It will provide training and certification for more than 3,800 youth annually. Areas of focus include electrical installation, plumbing, refrigeration and air conditioning, masonry, fire and safety (NEBOSH-certified), and hospitality services.

Speaking at the signing, Dr. Pelpuo described the initiative as a strategic response to Ghana’s youth unemployment challenge.

“This partnership reflects the Government’s commitment to addressing youth unemployment through innovative, public-private solutions. It will not only prepare our young people for opportunities within Ghana’s 24-hour economy but also open doors to global labour markets,” he said.

Mr. Laryea, on behalf of CG Technical Services, emphasized the programme’s potential to transform Ghana’s human capital base.

“This MoU creates pathways to global employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth. By equipping Ghanaian youth with internationally recognized skills, we are positioning them to thrive both locally and abroad,” he noted.

The four-year programme will also leverage public-private partnerships (PPP) and integrate the Boafo ATS recruitment platform to link graduates directly to employers in Ghana, the GCC region, the UK, and other international markets.

Officials say the initiative marks a major step in aligning Ghana’s youthful workforce with both domestic and global demand for skilled labour.

The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Ministry in Accra.

This strategic public-private partnership aims to facilitate the scouting, processing, and placement of Ghanaian artisans and workers in legal employment opportunities across key sectors, including hospitality, transportation, agriculture, and construction.

The Work Abroad programme seeks to bridge the gap between Ghanaian workers’ skills and foreign employers’ demands through partnerships with reputable recruitment agencies, promoting orderly and secure migration processes.

The Ministry is partnering with Platinum Impact Ltd, a renowned recruitment agency with decades of expertise in safe and regular migration, to leverage its experience in facilitating international employment opportunities.

Platinum Impact Limited, a Ghanaian-owned company established in 2004, is a reputable recruitment agency that prioritizes secure and safe job placements for its clients, with a proven track record of securing decent and well-paying employment opportunities.

The Ministry expects Platinum Impact Ltd to leverage these strengths in executing the Work Abroad project.

In March this year, the Ministry officially launched the Work Abroad initiative to facilitate the migration of Ghana’s skilled labour force for employment abroad.

Under the initiative, applicants will be screened through an online portal, which will be advertised.

Companies recruiting Ghanaian workers will be required to sign formal agreements with both the destination country and Ghana, the labour-exporting country, to protect the rights of Ghanaian workers who travel through the initiative.

At the signing ceremony, the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, encouraged the agency to operate within the country’s laws and uphold its reputation in recruitment to help curb irregular migration.

“My expectation is that you do what is right and required in the best interest of the people of Ghana. Let’s make sure we secure appropriate jobs in places where the rights of our people are respected. Use your expertise in locating decent jobs to support this initiative,” he said.

Workers selected will undergo pre-departure training on their rights, cultural adaptation, and professional skills to enhance their competitiveness in the global market while navigating the international work environment.

The Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Impact Limited, Desmond Eric Acquah, noted that “the organization’s operational process design is highly driven by adherence to the technical requirements of the labour market as well as labour laws.”

He added, “We are determined to work with the government to bring sanity into this sector and ensure that the programme achieves its intended results.”

“Platinum Impact has, over the years, remained competitive in the industry through innovative business strategies and a strong commitment to client satisfaction,” he concluded.

The Labour Compliance Officers and Inspectors Task Force has been assigned a threefold mandate: enforcing labour legislation, offering technical advice and guidance, and identifying abuses or regulatory gaps not currently addressed by existing laws.

The officers will be deployed across all 16 regions of Ghana, ensuring comprehensive coverage and monitoring of businesses, factories, and workplaces.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Accra, Mr. Hamidu Adakurugu, Chief Director of the Ministry, said the move marks a turning point in Ghana’s efforts to foster a stronger culture of compliance and worker protection.

“This initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s Reset Ghana agenda—building a nation where every institution works, every law is enforced, and every worker is protected,” he said.

Mr. Adakurugu attributed the milestone to the leadership of the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, under whose direction the Special Taskforce on Workplace Inspections and Compliance was constituted.

He emphasized that the deployment is in direct response to the urgent need to fully implement the Factories, Offices and Shops Act (FOSA), Act 328, and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

“These laws are not just documents—they are the backbone of decent work, safe environments, and investment confidence,” he stated. “As we reset our nation, we are resetting workplace safety standards and labour compliance across Ghana. The era of unsafe workplaces ends today.”

He stressed that compliance should not be viewed as punishment but as a partnership between the government, employers, workers, and investors.

“When workplaces follow the law, they create safer, more productive environments that attract both local and international investment. Compliance builds trust, and trust is the currency of development,” he noted.

However, Mr. Adakurugu warned that where cooperation fails, enforcement will take over.

“We will not negotiate worker safety,” he declared.

He said the newly recruited inspectors were selected based not only on their technical qualifications but also on their integrity and commitment to service.

“These inspectors are not enforcers of fear—they are ambassadors of reform and guardians of worker safety,” he added.

Their duties include ensuring compliance with legal standards under the Labour Act and FOSA, supporting workplaces to meet requirements, protecting vulnerable groups including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and documenting violations with swift follow-up actions.

“No factory, office, or shop in Ghana is beyond the scope of these inspectors,” he said. “Whether urban or rural, small or large, every business must meet our standards. Every worker deserves dignity, safety, and respect—and our inspectors will ensure that becomes a reality.”

He urged the inspectors to carry out their mandate with fairness and professionalism, assuring them of the full backing of the state.

“You have the authority to enter any workplace, shut down operations that endanger lives, and hold employers to the highest standards. Let no bribe, no bias, and no bureaucracy derail your noble mission,” Mr. Adakurugu charged.

“You are not just inspectors—you are custodians of national progress and worker dignity.”

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Lionel Anim Boateng, Project Manager of the Special Taskforce, reminded the new officers that the safety and security of Ghanaian workers now rest in their hands.

ALSO READ:

• YEA, Labour Ministry, GIZ Ghana launch Work Abroad Programme
• Ministry of Labour, YEA inaugurate committees for Work Abroad Programme

Dr. Pelpuo highlighted key objectives, including promoting safe migration, enhancing employability, addressing unemployment, and ensuring the sustainable reintegration of returnees. He described the initiative as a “win-win” for the youth, the economy, and international labour markets.

As part of a major policy shift, the minister announced the cancellation of labour migration for domestic workers to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation and align Ghana’s labour migration strategy with international standards.

He also outlined the roles of the newly formed committees, emphasizing YEA’s function as the programme’s secretariat.

Dr. Pelpuo officially inaugurated the committees, thanking members for their dedication and wishing them success.

The Work Abroad Programme is a key government intervention aimed at addressing youth unemployment through global partnerships and job creation.

ALSO READ:

• YEA, Labour Ministry, GIZ Ghana launch Work Abroad Programme

• Ghanaian teachers certified to work abroad – National Teaching Council

In a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, Isaac Bampoe Addo, Dr. Pelpuo acknowledged concerns raised by CLOGSAG.

He assured that discussions have been held with relevant stakeholders to address the concerns and reach an amicable resolution.

“I appreciate that CLOGSAG’s concerns do not particularly relate to the President’s appointments but rather to the fact that the individual in question is deemed to be politically exposed,” the letter stated.

Dr. Pelpuo expressed hope that CLOGSAG would reconsider its position, urging the association to call off its strike and allow members to return to work.

CLOGSAG had earlier rejected a request from the Ministry to call off the strike, which began on Thursday, February 20.

Addressing the press in Accra on Saturday, February 22, Mr. Bampoe stated that the request lacked merit and violated CLOGSAG’s statutes, which prohibit politically exposed persons from holding key positions in the civil service.

ALSO READ:

• CLOGSAG to continue nationwide strike despite NEC meeting

• CLOGSAG rejects Ministry’s request to end strike

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations puts the number of victims in their hundreds. 

“Since January, scores of disappointed youth have been trooping to the ministry to lodge complaints; they are in their hundreds, and they keep coming almost every day to make reports,” the Assistant Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Osei-Opoku Gyamfi, disclosed to the Daily Graphic last Friday.

He said although the ministry had issued a disclaimer to that effect, it kept receiving victims who went to the place to enquire about their job placements.

Payments/investigations 

He said victims of the scam claimed they paid between GH¢800 and GH¢1,500 to the suspected scammers through mobile money. Mr Gyamfi said the ministry was collaborating with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to investigate the scam.

“We have involved the CID, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and the Ministry of Communications to look into the issue and bring the perpetrators to book,” he said.
He said efforts were, therefore, being made to locate the people at the centre of the suspected scam.

Disclaimer

On August 5, 2021, Mr Gyamfi said, the ministry’s attention was drawn to a misleading news item circulating on some social media platforms and online media outlets by the suspected fraudsters in their attempt to swindle more job seekers.

The publication, under the heading: ‘Administrative officers upcoming interview’, instructed job seekers to purchase an inspection voucher PIN at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations at the Ministries enclave, Accra, from August 6, 2021, to attend an administrative interview and orientation.

As a result of the development, he said, the ministry had to issue three disclaimers on separate occasions when the issue came to its attention. The ministry, in one such disclaimer, said it “categorically disassociates itself from the false and misleading news item, as the information is fraudulent and malicious.”

It explained that the ministry was not a recruiting body and urged the public to disregard any job offer information purported to be from the ministry.

Victim’s account

One of the victims of the scam with whom the Daily Graphic spoke said the scammers, using false publications, indicated that applicants would be offered civil service jobs, but such recruitments were done online by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service. He said the publication came with a contact, which most of the victims used to link up with the scammers, and they (victims) were directed to pay their money into a mobile money account.

Background

In May 2004, a similar scam hit the same ministry, with close to 400 young people being affected.

The victims, who were made to register to work in hotels in the US for a year, paid US$1,000 each, in addition to a GH¢50 non-refundable interview fee, to an official at the labour office where the exercise was carried out.

However, after almost a year, none of the applicants went on the programme and their money was not refunded.

Following reports by some of the victims, national security got involved, and the woman at the centre of the scam, identified as Lizelle Bortha, and her accomplice, Fred Avornyo, were arrested.