The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment has officially launched the Professional International Recruiters Association of Ghana (PIRAG) to promote ethical recruitment.
It would ensure professionalism, accountability, and compliance across the country’s international recruitment sector.
The launch, held on Tuesday in Accra, was on the theme, “Promoting Fair and Ethical Recruitment: A Collective Responsibility for Decent Work and Well-Informed Migration in the 21st Century.”
The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, highlighted labour migration as a critical pillar of Ghana’s development, noting that properly governed migration creates employment pathways, facilitates skills transfer, and generates remittances that sustain households and strengthen the economy.
“Labour migration governance remains a sovereign responsibility of the State,” the official stated, adding that the government continues to strengthen a safe, orderly, and regular migration system anchored in the National Labour Migration Policy (2020) and international commitments,” he added.
According to him, the government has observed the persistence of unregulated actors within parts of the recruitment ecosystem. Adding the need for stronger compliance, professionalism, and accountability across the sector. Ethical failure by any one actor carries national consequences.
The Minister described the establishment of PIRAG as a welcome development that reflects growing recognition of the need for structured coordination within the private recruitment space. While the Ministry remains committed to fairness, transparency, and non-discrimination.
He emphasised that all actors must operate strictly within national laws and regulatory frameworks. Noting that the Ministry retains full responsibility for policy, regulation, and oversight, while professional associations like PIRAG can promote discipline, peer accountability, and ethical standards.
“While the government sets policy direction, effective implementation is strengthened through cooperation with credible stakeholders,” he added.
He noted that PIRAG represents an opportunity to support structured engagement and improved coordination within the recruitment ecosystem.
Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo stated that the Ministry has outlined a set of planned actions to reinforce safe migration outcomes, including strengthening licensing and regulation of private employment agencies; enhancing monitoring and enforcement systems; expanding bilateral labour agreements to protect Ghanaian workers abroad; deepening collaboration with development partners; and advancing labour migration governance reforms.
He stated that every unethical recruitment practice affects not only individuals but Ghana’s national reputation, adding that Self-regulation, peer accountability, and adherence to national standards remain critical pillars of a credible recruitment system. Fair and ethical recruitment must be understood as a shared responsibility involving the Government, private sector, and international partners.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the dignity, rights, and welfare of Ghanaian workers and to sustaining a migration system that is safe, orderly, and regular.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
