ILO workshop on occupational safety held in Kumasi
A comprehensive five-day training workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of stakeholders with the requisite technical skills and knowledge on international labour standards and occupational safety and health principles has been held at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Made possible through the ACCEL AFRICA Project of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is expected to promote safer working environments, comply with labour protection standards and support the elimination of child labour in the cocoa and artisanal, small scale golf mining sectors in Ghana.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants including labour inspectors from the Ministry of Labour Jobs and Employment, inspectors from Minerals Commission, COCOBOD Health and Extension Division, Child Labour Unit, Department of Cooperatives, Workers Organisation and Employers’ Organisation.
Through interactive sessions, practical demonstrations and knowledge-sharing platforms, the training addressed key safety and health challenges including occupational hazards, child labour, emergency response protocols and best practices for mitigating risks.
Economic empowerment
The National Programme Coordinator of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Bismark Quartey, stated that the well-being of workers in these sectors was paramount for growth and economic empowerment for its actors.
He said these benchmarks had initiated the need to organise the capacity building session for trainers who would in turn train others in their various institutions.
He stated that the training was designed to empower trainers to transfer acquired knowledge to workers at all levels to improve the culture of safety and health.
Hands-on approaches
The Occupational Safety and Health Consultant, Emily Akumah, underscored the importance of hands-on approaches in fostering long-term improvements.
She stressed the commitment of the project in ensuring that trainers gain practical insights and the confidence to implement safety measures effectively in their respective fields.
Field visit
The participants visited a cocoa farm in Konongo to interact with local farmers and appreciate practicality of hazards faced by farmers.
The Konongo District office of COCOBOD were very instrumental in welcoming and briefing participants and facilitated a smooth interaction with officers and farmers.
At the end of the session, stakeholders collaborated to develop a comprehensive strategic action plan for occupational safety and health as well as child labour elimination in these sectors.
The document is aimed at strengthening occupational safety and health standards while addressing the urgent issue of child labour in the cocoa and small-scale mining sectors.
The plan outlined specific measures; capacity-building programs, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, community awareness campaigns and policy recommendations to ensure long-term improvements in working conditions.
Invaluable skills
The training provided invaluable skills, knowledge and the confident in identifying hazards and implementing safety measures to protect actors and the community.
The training of trainers workshop is part of a broader initiative by ACCEL to enhance workplace safety and align industry practices with national and international
standards.
The training initiative by the International Labour Organization is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with focus on a hands-on approach to addressing the root causes of child labour.