The Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment,  Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has reiterated the government’s dedication to strengthening Human Resource policies and expanding job opportunities for Ghanaians.

He announced that a comprehensive international labour migration strategy is being developed to address unemployment and promote ethical recruitment practices.

“Human resources are the backbone of national development.

If we fail to prioritize our workforce, we will pay the price in stagnation and inefficiency,” Dr. Pelpuo stated.

He made these remarks when a nine-member delegation from the Chartered Institute of Human Resources Management (CIHRM), led by its President, Mrs. Florence Hutchful, and CEO, Dr. Francis Eduku, paid him a courtesy visit in Accra.

Their discussions centred on labour reforms, professional HR standards, and workforce development.

Dr. Pelpuo emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring decent work conditions, fair labour practices, and a well-regulated labour market.

He highlighted professional HR standards as a key area of collaboration with CIHRM, aimed at protecting workers from exploitation.

He further called for a review of the Labour Bill to align with Ghana’s economic transformation agenda, stressing the need for structured HR transfers and ethical labour migration policies to create sustainable job opportunities locally and internationally.

CIHRM President Mrs. Florence Hutchful congratulated Dr. Pelpuo on his appointment and commended his proactive approach to HR and labour issues.

She assured him of CIHRM’s commitment to partnering with the government to establish higher HR management standards.

She also announced that CIHRM is finalizing national HR management standards, which will serve as a blueprint for best practices in employment, workforce training, and talent development.

Dr. Pelpuo criticized poor HR management in Ghana, citing instances where major government projects collapsed due to a lack of skilled personnel and oversight.

“A nation cannot progress without strong human resource systems.

We have seen costly projects handed over to Ghanaians, only for them to fail within months due to poor management.

This must change. We need quality HR, not shortcuts,” he stated.

He urged CIHRM to enforce strict professional HR standards, ensuring that certifications are earned through merit and not fraudulent means.

CIHRM CEO Dr. Francis Eduku revealed that the institute is strengthening partnerships with universities to ensure HR education aligns with practical industry needs.

Through Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs), CIHRM aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world HR application.

The CIHRM delegation included Vice-President Mrs. Dorothy Asare, while the minister’s team comprised Mrs. Gloria Bortelei Noi, Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PPME) and Acting Chief Director, Mr. Hamidu Adakrugu, Director of General Administration, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment.