Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has urged the newly appointed Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, to establish an independent office for labour statistics in Ghana.
According to Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, the absence of a centralized body responsible for collecting and publishing employment data has resulted in inconsistencies in job creation figures across successive governments.
He made these remarks during a parliamentary debate, emphasizing the need for accurate and transparent employment statistics.
Lessons from global models
Citing international examples, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah pointed to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides monthly employment reports.
He stressed that a similar institution in Ghana would ensure consistency in job statistics and eliminate doubts surrounding government job creation claims.
He recalled previous challenges with employment data, including former President Kufour’s unsuccessful job registration exercise and the late President Mills’ administration’s announcement of 1.6 million jobs, which proved difficult to verify.
Similarly, he referenced the Akufo-Addo administration’s reliance on Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) data, which reported job creation figures of 2.6 million but remained a subject of public debate.
Ensuring transparency and informed policy decisions
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that an independent office for labour statistics would provide reliable data for policymakers, economic analysts, and the public, fostering trust in government employment policies.
“The establishment of such an office will ensure transparency and provide credible statistics that everyone can rely on,” he stated.
Private sector as a job creation engine
Beyond the issue of employment statistics, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah also urged Minister Pelpuo to focus on empowering the private sector as a key driver of employment growth.
He highlighted that job creation is more sustainable when led by private enterprises rather than government programs.
“Jobs are created mostly in the private sector than the public sector, and so it will behoove on him to liaise with his colleagues in the economic sectors so that they can create the enabling environment for the private sector to create jobs,” he advised.
A call for deliberate economic policies
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stressed that effective job creation should not be based solely on government announcements but rather on well-structured economic policies that support private businesses. He urged the new Labour Minister to collaborate with economic sector ministers to create a thriving environment for job growth.
“The lesson that we have learned, which we will share with them, is that it will be better if attention is paid to assisting the economic sector ministers so that they create the environment that allows the private sector to create jobs,” he concluded.
The call for an independent labour statistics office aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance data reliability and policy effectiveness in Ghana’s employment sector.
As discussions continue, stakeholders will be watching to see how the new minister responds to this crucial recommendation
