The Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemnag has joined Government, organised labour, employers, and key stakeholders in the Volta region, where I officially opened the 2026 Annual National Labour Conference on behalf of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama. The conference is a platform for reflecting on the state of labour relations, assessing progress, and strengthening collaboration.
Addressing the conference, I stressed that while organised labour remains a vital partner in national development, greater attention must also be given to workers in the informal sector, who account for over 70 per cent of Ghana’s workforce. Despite their significant contribution to the economy, they are often underrepresented in national labour discourse, have limited social protection, and rarely have the collective voice or bargaining power available to organised labour. Their rights, welfare, and working conditions deserve equal attention.
Government policies, such as the 24-Hour Economy, are strategic initiatives to drive growth, create jobs, and maximise the productive use of national resources by investing in energy, transport, security, public lighting, and other critical infrastructure. I therefore encouraged employers, organised labour, and the private sector to embrace innovation and flexible working arrangements to support this transformation.
Updating Ghana’s labour administration through the proposed Labour Bill, 2026, is important for strengthening labour relations, improving social protection, and providing more effective mechanisms for resolving workplace disputes. I called on organised labour to continue promoting productivity, professionalism, innovation, and ethical work while addressing challenges such as absenteeism, indiscipline, and corruption. Government, employers, and labour share responsibility for building a productive workforce. Government remains committed to transparency, fairness, and partnership in advancing national development.
