By Valentia Tetteh
The Minister-Designate for the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has outlined his vision for addressing the persistent labour disputes and agitations that have long plagued Ghana’s labour sector.
During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, January 30, Dr. Pelpuo emphasized the need for a calm, collaborative, and thoughtful approach to conflict resolution.
“This is a space that is often populated with lots of agitations and I believe that when you are quiet and gentle and thoughtful, it is easy to get answers to many problems,”Dr. Pelpuo said. “One of the greatest problems we have in this world is that when you have issues with people and both of you are angry, you can’t solve the problem and so somebody has to be quiet and thoughtful.”
Dr. Pelpuo also pledged to work closely with labour unions, employers, and other stakeholders to ensure grievances are resolved amicably. He noted that fostering collaboration and understanding would be at the heart of his administration’s approach, should his nomination be approved.
In addition to addressing labour disputes, Dr. Pelpuo reaffirmed his commitment to the NDC 24-hour economy policy, which aims to revolutionise Ghana’s labour landscape by extending economic activities beyond traditional working hours. The policy, proposed by President John Dramani Mahama seeks to create a three-shift system across various sectors, enabling industries to operate continuously throughout the day and night.
