Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for greater attention to workers in Ghana’s informal sector, describing them as critical contributors to the country’s economy whose rights and welfare must receive equal priority.
Opening the 2026 Annual National Labour Conference in Ho, the Vice President said while organised labour remains an indispensable partner in national development, workers in the informal sector, who account for more than 70 percent of Ghana’s workforce, often have limited social protection and little representation in national labour discussions.
The Vice President further urged organised labour, employers and the private sector to embrace the Government’s 24-Hour Economy policy through innovation and flexible work arrangements to drive economic growth and job creation.
Speaking on the conference sub-theme, “The State of Security in Ghana and the Sub-Region,” Deputy Minister for the Interior, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, assured participants that Ghana’s security situation remains stable despite evolving security challenges across West Africa.
He said Government is strengthening national security through enhanced border surveillance, improved intelligence gathering and reforms in firearms administration and the private security sector.
Hon. Terlabi noted that enforcement against illegal firearms has been intensified following the Gun Amnesty Programme, while legislative reforms such as the Community Service Bill and the proposed Parole Bill are expected to strengthen rehabilitation, reduce prison congestion and modernise Ghana’s criminal justice system.
He urged organised labour to support national security efforts by promoting vigilance, social cohesion and responsible citizenship, stressing that safeguarding Ghana’s peace is a shared responsibility.
The conference brought together government officials, organised labour, employers and other stakeholders to deliberate on labour relations, productivity and national development.
