The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, in collaboration with the Ministry of Special Initiatives, has inaugurated the National Planning Committee for the Ghana Labour Exchange Program (GLEP), marking a major milestone in the country’s quest to become a global leader in structured labour export and international workforce development.
The programme, under the theme “Designing Ghana’s Global Workforce Strategy,” is directly under the Office of the President of the Republic of Ghana.
GLEP aims to train, deploy, and re-integrate Ghana’s youthful workforce through ethical and rights-based labour contracts abroad.
The initiative will also be complemented by the Ghana Security Training & Exchange Program for Service Personnel (G-STEPS), which will offer international training opportunities for national service personnel, particularly in the areas of security, peacekeeping, and technology-driven fields.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo, noted that the unemployment situation and current economic challenges are critical elements in the government’s drive to restore the economy and provide jobs for young people.
He emphasised that there are international opportunities that can benefit both individuals and the nation.
While the government works to harness overseas labour opportunities, he assured that all efforts will comply strictly with the labour law framework. “It is a critical element of the totality of our effort to send people abroad,” he said.
The Minister stressed, “No company can send people out of this country without a labour certificate signed by the Minister. No company can send anybody abroad without a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in line with the laws of Ghana and existing labour regulations.”
Additionally, the government will sign bilateral agreements with any country that seeks labour from Ghana to ensure transparency and legal compliance.
This move is intended to ensure that Ghanaian workers abroad are treated fairly, adequately compensated, and not subjected to exploitative conditions.
Minister for Special Initiatives, Hon. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, highlighted that countries such as Egypt, the Philippines, India, Morocco, and Mexico have economically benefited from labour export over the years. He stated that Ghana must now strategically position itself to do the same.
He reiterated that there is a growing shortage of labour across Europe and other continents, making it necessary for Ghana to take advantage of these opportunities to secure employment for its youth.
Opportunities in sectors such as nursing, teaching, and other skilled professions are readily available for Ghanaians, he added.
“The time has come for us to give young people in this country the opportunity to work elsewhere,” he stressed.
A press statement issued at the event noted, “We must seize the moment to export skilled Ghanaian professionals through structured partnerships that guarantee dignity, knowledge exchange, and national reinvestment. The Mahama-led agenda positions Ghana not just as an exporter of talent, but as a strategic partner in global development.”
The Committee’s mandate includes developing a national policy and legal framework for labour export, designing operational structures for GLEP and G-STEPS, setting KPIs, and coordinating a national awareness campaign.
The Committee is co-chaired by Hon. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister for Special Initiatives, and Hon. Rashid Pelpuo, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations. It includes representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Health, Education, and Transport; the Ghana Immigration Service; SSNIT; the Labour Agencies Council; civil society; youth observers; and relevant parliamentary committees.
The GLEP initiative is expected to be officially launched later this year.
