Vice-President calls for improved humane treatment, accountability across public service

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has decried the increase in reported cases of mistreatment, including physical abuse of employees. 

Addressing issues of worker abuse during a working visit to the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, she stressed that no individual had the authority to brutalise another person, particularly those who are vulnerable or desperate for employment.

She, therefore, called for accountability in such cases.

“Getting somebody whipped is neither here nor there.

And I hope somebody was held to account for that because nobody has a right to sub-brutalise another person.

You are not the courts.”

She also raised concerns about abuse in domestic work settings, and urged public relations units and relevant agencies to intensify education on workers’ rights and humane treatment.

“So why subject people to such inhuman treatment? I take very, very strong exception to that. Especially sometimes even domestic work. People are just helping you in your home and you are abusing them”.

She called for improved working conditions, fair compensation and greater respect for the dignity of labour across all sectors of the economy.

Visit

The visit was part of a broader engagement with key ministries to understand their challenges and support their needs.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was accompanied by the Chief of Staff in her office, Alex Percival Segbefia, along with other staff.

She was received by the sector Minister, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, together with management, staff and heads of agencies under the ministry.

Present were representatives from the Labour Department, Department of Factory Inspectorate, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the National Labour Commission.

Commitment

The Vice-President said her administration remains committed to raising the quality of the country’s human capital by improving how workers are treated, rewarded and supported in their respective fields.

“You are working to raise the quality of our people in many, many different areas- the way they are treated, the way they are recompensed, and the satisfaction they derive from selling their labour,” she said.

She emphasised that governance is a shared responsibility, adding that while public servants work under their ministers, leadership must also be responsive to the needs and concerns of those they supervise.

“So it's a two-way train. And everybody plays their role, and that is why the results will be something that we can share.

And in all of this, as I said, we are advancing our country”, she added. 

Touching on ongoing reforms aimed at “resetting the country,” she acknowledged concerns raised by agencies, particularly in the context of operating with fewer ministers and constrained resources.

She assured officials that their concerns were being heard and pledged to advocate on their behalf whenever necessary.

On legislative reforms and the review of bills, the Vice-President assured stakeholders of collective support to ensure that laws and policies promote productive and dignified working environments.

The minister revealed the near completion of the Ghana Labour Market Information System, a nationwide electronic platform designed to centralise job data and link job seekers directly to employment opportunities.

“With this system, anybody can be anywhere in Ghana—north, south, east or west—log in, see available jobs, match them with their qualifications, apply and receive feedback, without taking a step out of their home,” the minister explained.

Mr Pelpuo said the system was undergoing final refinements and would soon be operational.

To promote industrial peace and harmony, the minister said his office had institutionalised periodic working visits to factories and workplaces to directly assess working conditions, including to hear grievances from employees, and engage employers on ways to improve productivity and labour relations.

He recalled how intense discussions on recent labour negotiations culminated in a 10 per cent increase in base salary and the minimum wage.

“That decision was finalised when the President himself sat with us at the peak of the negotiations,” he said.

Review

The minister also announced an ongoing review of the Labour Bill to align it with government policy priorities, particularly the 24-hour economy agenda.

Mr Pelpuo expressed confidence that by 2026, a revised bill would be presented to reflect new thinking on job creation, labour organisation and industrial growth.