By: Angel Quaye
The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment has introduced a new regional initiative aimed at improving workplace safety and ensuring stronger compliance with Ghana’s labour laws. The Ashanti Regional Health and Safety Compliance Taskforce has been set up to support inspections, guide employers, and help prevent accidents.
Speaking at the launch on Monday, November 17, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hon. Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, reaffirmed government’s strong commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing and dignity of workers across the country.
He reminded stakeholders that every workplace injury carries both “a human cost and a national cost,” stressing the need for better monitoring systems and full adherence to laws such as the Labour Act (Act 651) and the Factories, Offices and Shops Act (Act 328).
Dr. Pelpuo described the new Taskforce as an important decentralised structure that brings workplace safety enforcement closer to local communities, businesses and workers.
“By establishing this regional Taskforce, we are bringing part of the operational strength at the capital closer to the people,” he stated. “This means quicker response, stronger oversight, and clearer accountability.”
He explained that the Taskforce will support labour officers during inspections, improve coordination at the district level, offer safety guidance to employers and workers, and help ensure that enforcement measures are realistic and sustainable.
The Minister urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to take an active role, noting that their local leadership is key to making the system work effectively.
He also encouraged both employers and workers to see safety as a shared duty. Employers, he said, must make sure legal requirements are put into practice through proper training, safe tools and regular checks, while workers must follow safety rules and report dangers.
After the Minister’s address, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Hamidu Adakurugu, echoed the message that workplace safety is a national priority.
He praised the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and MMDCEs for their support and acknowledged the contributions of regulatory agencies, private sector organisations and civil society partners.
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