The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has inaugurated the National Planning Committee for the Ghana Labour Exchange Program (GLEP), signalling a significant step in the country’s strategy to position itself as a hub for ethical and structured labour export.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Presidential Annex under the theme ‘Designing Ghana’s Global Workforce Strategy,’ brought together representatives from government ministries, diplomatic missions, development partners, labour agencies, and civil society organisations.
The Committee is tasked with developing a comprehensive framework to facilitate the safe, professional, and mutually beneficial deployment of Ghanaian labour to international markets.
Dr. Pelpuo urged the Committee to approach its mandate with urgency and dedication, emphasising the critical role of labour mobility in job creation, skills development, and national economic growth.
“This initiative aligns with Ghana’s ambition to participate meaningfully in the global workforce,” he noted. “Our youth must be given structured and dignified opportunities to contribute their skills abroad while gaining experience that will benefit the country upon their return.”
The Ghana Labour Exchange Program forms part of a broader national agenda to harness the potential of labour diplomacy, tapping into international labour market demands while ensuring strong protections and support systems for Ghanaian workers overseas.
The Committee’s work will focus on developing institutional mechanisms, bilateral labour agreements, skills alignment strategies, and reintegration frameworks to create a sustainable, secure, and efficient labour export system.