Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called on newly appointed Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, to prioritize the establishment of an independent office for labour statistics in Ghana.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, ahead of Mr. Pelpuo’s nomination approval, Oppong Nkrumah stressed the longstanding issue of inconsistent job creation data in Ghana.
“One thing that, over the years, as a republic, we have failed in is having an independent body that can put together statistics on jobs. In the United States, for example, they have the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which compiles and publishes employment data monthly,” Oppong Nkrumah remarked.
According to him, successive governments have struggled to provide accurate employment figures.
He cited several past challenges, including President Kufuor’s administration attempting an unsuccessful job registration exercise; the late President Mills’ administration announcing 1.6 million new jobs, which later proved difficult to verify and the Akufo-Addo administration’s reliance on Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) data, which estimated job creation at 2.6 million.”
According to him, it was a matter of public debate, emphasizing that a dedicated Office for Labour Statistics would ensure transparency and provide reliable employment data for policymakers, economic analysts, and the public.
Oppong Nkrumah also urged the new minister to prioritize private-sector-driven employment policies beyond labour statistics.
“Jobs are created mostly in the private sector than the public sector,” he said, advising Mr. Pelpuo to collaborate with economic sector ministers to create an enabling environment for businesses to generate sustainable employment.
“The lesson that we have learned is that job creation should not be driven by government announcements but by deliberate policies that empower private enterprises,” Oppong Nkrumah added.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama on Friday swore in Mr. Pelpuo and 16 other ministers, following Parliament’s approval of all nominees after a rigorous vetting process.
During the swearing-in ceremony, President Mahama charged the new ministers to focus on policies that will improve the lives of Ghanaians.
