Gov’t Moves to Formalize Labour Export with Inauguration of National Planning Committee

With the establishment of the Ghana Labour Exchange Program (GLEP), Ghana has formalized its labour export strategy with the inauguration of a national planning committee.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, aims to position the country as a regional hub for ethical, structured labour migration.

Held under the theme “Designing Ghana’s Global Workforce Strategy,” the inauguration ceremony held at the Presidential Annex brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from government ministries, diplomatic corps, labour agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations.

The Committee has been tasked with crafting a comprehensive national framework to enable safe, professional, and mutually beneficial deployment of Ghanaian talent to international markets. It will lead the design of policies and protocols to streamline overseas employment, strengthen protections for Ghanaian workers, and align local skills with global demand.

Labour Diplomacy as Economic Strategy

In his address, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, underscored the strategic importance of the initiative, especially as Ghana looks to leverage labour mobility for economic transformation and youth empowerment.

“This initiative aligns with Ghana’s ambition to participate meaningfully in the global workforce. 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.”  Dr. Pelpuo said.

The Minister urged the Committee to work with urgency and purpose, highlighting the potential of labour export to reduce unemployment, develop critical skillsets, and increase remittance inflows.

Building Ghana’s Global Workforce Infrastructure

The GLEP will address long-standing gaps in Ghana’s labour migration model by introducing bilateral labour agreements with target countries, accredited labour recruitment frameworks, and skills alignment programs tailored to international standards.

With global labour demand rising in healthcare, construction, agriculture, and technology sectors, Ghana is seeking to institutionalise its labour export pathways and avoid the pitfalls of informal, unregulated migration.

The committee’s work is expected to culminate in a national blueprint for ethical labour export, integrating both private and public sector players in the deployment, welfare, and reintegration of Ghanaian professionals abroad.

GLEP forms part of a broader government agenda to harness the benefits of labour diplomacy, while mitigating brain drain and ensuring Ghanaian workers abroad remain protected under international best practices.

If successfully executed, the strategy could significantly boost employment, drive remittance inflows, and deepen Ghana’s presence in global labour markets, delivering economic and human capital dividends in the years ahead.

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