The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has launched the Ghana Workplace Health Declaration and the Employee Safeguarding Toolkit.
These two initiatives are designed to mainstream health and safety practices within corporate and public institutions.
Speaking at the maiden Ghana Health and Labour Summit held at the University of Ghana last Thursday, the minister described the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Ghana’s workforce as a “silent productivity killer.”
He called for a national commitment to integrate health and well-being into the world of work.
He noted that illnesses linked to stress, poor nutrition, and sedentary lifestyles now account for over 43 per cent of all deaths in the country.
“The well-being of workers must no longer be treated as a luxury. It is both a moral and economic necessity, the foundation upon which our national productivity depends,” he said.
According to him, the 2025 Gallup Workplace Report, which ranked Ghana among the least thriving workforces globally, described the findings as a powerful indicator of low engagement and high stress, one that demands urgent policy action.
“We cannot afford to have a workforce merely surviving; we need one that is thriving and excelling,” he added.
Dr Pelpuo reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening workplace inspections, compliance, and safety enforcement, while ensuring that employee well-being remains central to Ghana’s economic policies, including the government’s flagship 24-hour economy initiative.
He assured that the Ministry is working with the Ministries of Finance, Health, and Education to address salary and welfare concerns. “Dignity at work begins with predictable, prompt, and decent compensation,” he said.
He urged employers to invest in workplace wellness and for trade unions to champion health and safety reforms.
“Let this summit mark a new chapter in Ghana’s labour history. We must no longer separate health from work; they are two sides of the same coin,” he added.
The Ghana Health and Labour Summit 2025 was organised by MentaPulse Africa and the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, to promote dialogue and action on workplace health and national productivity.
The Summit, held under the theme “Mobilising Against Non-Communicable Diseases: The Role of Workplaces in Safeguarding Employee Wellbeing,” brought together government officials, labour leaders, business executives, and health professionals.
Priscilla Osei-Wusu Nimako, ISD
