The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is to hold a National job summit from April 15-16 this year at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The theme for the event is: “Inclusive Growth through Creation of Productive Employment and Decent Work for All Ghanaians,” and it is expected to bring together 500 participants from both the informal and formal sectors to share knowledge and best practices on job creation at the national, regional and international levels.
The summit is being organised under the auspices of the Office of the President, John Dramani Mahama, as part of efforts for the country to achieve its goal of reaching full employment by the year 2030.
Giving an overview of the upcoming event during a press conference in Accra, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Mohammed Baba Ahmed Jamal, said the summit would focus on two core areas — the productive sector and direct interventions.
It would also discuss the challenges of unemployment, underemployment, poverty and increasing inequality and its potential to undermine national security and stability.
Mr Jamal said during the summit, technical papers on identified areas to determine the constraints, opportunities and challenges to job growth would be delivered.
“So far, eight thematic areas that have potential for job creation have been identified,” he said.
In addition, Mr Jamal said demonstrations on the Ghana Labour Market Information System would be made during the summit.
However, before the plenary sessions, he said, a presentation would be made by a labour economist, Dr Baah Boateng, on the overview of the employment situation in Ghana and the national employment policy.
Mr Jamal said President John Dramani Mahama and the Director- General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr Guy Ryder would be at an exhibition on Sustaining Competitive and Responsive Enterprises (SCORE) which would showcase some of the key activities of some small and medium enterprises (SME’s) under the ILO support.
In addition the National Vocational Training Institute would do a presentation on skills development initiatives in job creation.
Mr Jamal said one of the highlights of the summit would be the launch of the National Employment Policy (NEP) by President John Mahama.
“The NEP document gives strategic direction for job creation and also spells out the sectoral linkages for effective and efficient co-ordination of job opportunities for all Ghanaians,” he explained.
