Labour Ministry to prioritise physical, mental wellbeing of workers
The Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has said that his outfit will prioritise the overall physical and mental wellbeing of the labour force.
The Minister pointed out that the country’s economy depends on both the formal and informal workforce, and as the backbone driving the nation’s development, it is vital that their health needs are met decisively.
“We must ensure that our labour force is not under intense pressure. Just as we mentioned earlier, non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure due to stress, diabetes from processed food, and many others are driving our able men to their early graves.
“My outfit is committed to projecting a healthy workforce that matches well with present challenges in our technological world,” he remarked.
The Labour Minister also noted with sadness how a section of the working class is being diagnosed with non-communicable diseases in recent times, and appealed to informal employers to make available interventions that could promote their wellbeing.
Also adding his voice to the call, Mr Manuel Koranteng, Executive Director of MentaPulse Africa, advocated for policies to be put in place to augment the health needs of workers through psychological support.
He urged that obsolete laws on labour issues be revived to drive the development of the country.
“Most of our workforce is suffering burnout, not eating healthily, and spending ample time in traffic before and after work. They get home tired and have to resort to fast food, and the cycle continues. Employers, including the government, must put measures in place to support the working-class citizen,” Mr Koranteng decried.
He also appealed to private health workers to provide comprehensive or some form of health insurance cover for their employees. This, he believes, will encourage employees to detect any unforeseen sickness early, before they even escalate to emergencies.
They were speaking at the Ghana Health & Labour Summit (GHL Summit 2025), held on 9th October 2025 at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) Auditorium, Legon, under the theme ‘Mobilising Against NCDs, Safeguarding Employee Wellbeing in Ghana.’
