The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment has launched Ghana’s first-ever National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) profile, marking a major step toward creating safer and healthier working environments across all sectors of the economy.

The OSH Profile, described as a foundational document, will serve as the basis for the formulation of a comprehensive national policy and legislation on occupational safety and health.

Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment,  Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (MP), hailed the initiative as a historic milestone that underscores the government’s determination to strengthen occupational safety systems and protect the well-being of Ghana’s workforce.

“This launch marks a new phase in Ghana’s journey to institutionalise occupational safety and health,” Dr. Pelpuo said.

“Our goal is to ensure that every worker — in both the formal and informal sectors — operates in a safe, healthy, and dignified environment.”

He noted that the OSH Profile aligns Ghana’s standards with international labour conventions and best practices, paving the way for the development of a National OSH Policy and Legislation.

Dr. Pelpuo also lauded the creation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing the Work in Fishing Convention (C188), calling it another important measure to protect vulnerable workers.

“Our fishers feed the nation, and it is our responsibility to ensure that their working environment is safe and decent,” he said.

“The SOP is a practical tool to make that commitment a reality.”

Representing the Ghana Employers Association, Mr. Alex Frimpong Amoah emphasised the urgency of improving workplace safety across all industries.

He cited recent incidents such as building collapses and workplace accidents as avoidable tragedies that threaten productivity and national development.

“We need to ensure that our workplaces are safe and conducive,” he said.

“Otherwise, it won’t help productivity or national progress.”

On behalf of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Enoch Cudjoe commended Ghana for aligning the new OSH Profile with ILO Conventions 155 and 187, which provide global frameworks for promoting safe and healthy workplaces.

“This profile serves as a foundation for developing a national OSH policy,” Mr. Cudjoe noted.

“We are very pleased that Ghana has reached this stage, and we hope the effort continues until the policy and accompanying programme are fully enacted.”

Delivering a presentation on the OSH Profile, Dr. S. T. Odonkor, lead consultant on the project, described the document as a roadmap for reform.

He urged the government to consolidate existing occupational safety laws into a single legal framework and establish a National Occupational Safety and Health Authority with enforcement powers.

Acting Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Dawuda Ibrahim Braimah, highlighted the significance of the new SOP for Ghana’s fishing sector, describing it as the first of its kind in West Africa.

“This framework will guide inspections and ensure that the rights and safety of fishers are respected,” he said.

“Ghana is proud to lead the sub-region in developing such a tool under the convention.”

The launch of the National OSH Profile and the SOP on the Work in Fishing Convention marks a defining moment in Ghana’s occupational safety and health journey. It reinforces the government’s commitment to building safer workplaces, protecting lives, and fostering sustainable productivity across all sectors.