Ghana to host Job Summit in September

Ghana is to host International Job Summit on September 3 and 4 to equip the youth with the requisite employable skills which will prepare them for the job market.

The summit is on the general theme: “Inclusive Growth through the Creation of Productive Employment and Decent Work for all Ghanaians”.


Speaking at the media launch on Wednesday, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, said the summit would serve as a platform for interaction among stakeholders in the employment sector.


It will also help in developing good strategies for job creation in the country and serve as a platform to propel the nation achieve its goal of reaching full employment by 2030.


The Job Summit will also serve as a technical platform for stakeholders’ engagement which will include think-tanks and social partners on the avenues for job creation in all sectors of the economy.


It will also be used to share knowledge and best practices on job creation at the national, regional and international levels.


Mr Iddrisu said the summit would also bring together experts in the various industries and give the opportunity to some key businesses to exhibit their sustainable business ideas in job creation.

Issues to be discussed include challenges to employment, under employment, poverty and increasing inequality and its effect, identify the challenges of translating higher growth rates into jobs and high levels of income and share successful experiences and best practices at national, regional and international levels.


“It will also seek to promote decent green jobs through sustainable development and also agree on a national action plan and targeted sector projections between now and 2030,” he said.


Mr Iddrisu said activities for the summit would focus on eight thematic areas including: Placing Employment at the Centre of Sustainable National Development Agenda, Experiences on Implementations of Employment Policies, Bridging the Gap between Skills Demand and Supply through TVET and Apprenticeship.


There would also be group discussions on the promotion of skills development for job creation, revamping the productive sectors for job creation with special emphasis on agricultural and manufacturing, and job creation in the informal and private sectors.


He said there would also be an exhibition on Sustaining and Responsive Enterprises (SCORE) project with President Mahama and Mr Guy Ryder, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director-General, showcasing some of the key activities of SMEs under support.


“In addition, the National and Vocational Training Institute (TVET) has also been earmarked to showcase some of the skills development initiatives in job creation,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu said a key highlight of the summit will involve the launch of the National Employment Policy by President John Dramani Mahama adding that the summit will also give local investors the opportunity to interact with foreign social partners.


He said ideas to be generated at the summit would inform Government’s policy decisions in job creation and also create high level links of collaborations with relevant stakeholders to address technically challenging problems in the area of job creation.


He said with effect from January 2015, Government would introduce the clock in-and-out system at all Government outfits to ensure that people did not report and close from work as and when they pleased.


This system, he said, would push people in the public sector to work effectively to help in the socio-economic development of the country.