Minister-designate for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has vowed to ensure gender balance in employment, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to equity in the workforce.
“This is something we have taken care of in our manifesto. And we call it leveling up—creating a balance between female, male, youth, and adults, ensuring an avenue for all of them to be involved,” he stated.
Dr. Pelpuo has also pledged to enforce strict compliance with labor laws while ensuring businesses operating under Ghana’s ambitious 24-hour economic policy receive adequate security protection.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee on Thursday, January 30, 2025, Dr. Pelpuo made it clear that security measures would be put in place to safeguard businesses running around the clock.
“Security will be provided for businesses running under the 24-hour policy,” he assured.
Beyond security, Dr. Pelpuo stressed his commitment to upholding Ghana’s labor laws, particularly in enforcing minimum wage compliance. He warned employers against exploiting workers and made it clear that violations would not be tolerated.
“If we agree on a minimum wage, the law mandates that it applies across every organization. No employer should pay below that wage. Anyone found guilty of doing so will be held accountable before the law,” he asserted.
Dr. Pelpuo further urged Ghanaian workers to be vigilant and report cases of wage underpayment.
“Ghanaians should not be cheated. We all know the legally established minimum wage, and if any employer fails to comply, serious questions will be raised about their operations,” he added.
On the contentious issue of retirement age, the nominee indicated a willingness to support a review, but insisted that any decision should be the product of broad national consensus.
“There’s a lot of talk about reviewing the retirement age—some say up to 65 or 70. I believe this should be the outcome of a well-balanced national discussion. If the consensus supports a reform, I will align with it,” he stated.
Currently, Ghana’s statutory retirement age for public sector workers is set at 60, with an extension option of up to five years. In the private sector, employers determine their own minimum retirement age, which must be no less than 60 years.
