Rashid Pelpuo’s Record: The Quiet Work Behind His 18 Months at the Labour Ministry

Dr. Rashid Pelpuo

In the aftermath of the recent ministerial reshuffle, considerable public debate has followed the decision to move Dr. Rashid Pelpuo from the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment to a non‑Cabinet portfolio.

While the President has the constitutional authority to appoint and reshuffle ministers as he deems appropriate, the development has generated questions, particularly among sections of the public in the Upper West Region. Some commentaries have also suggested that Dr. Pelpuo’s removal from the Labour Ministry was a reflection of underperformance.

That conclusion, however, deserves closer examination.

Dr. Pelpuo may not be perfect, and like every public official, his tenure can and should be subjected to legitimate scrutiny. But a fair assessment of his approximately one year and six months at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment should be based on what was actually achieved under his watch—not merely on the fact that he has been reshuffled.

There is also an important context to his tenure that is often missing from public discussion.

A Ministry With Limited Direct Control Over Job‑Creation Agencies

When Dr. Pelpuo assumed responsibility for the Ministry, several institutions traditionally associated with employment creation and youth development had already been realigned under other ministries as part of government restructuring.

These included:

Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)
National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA)
Youth Employment Authority (YEA)
National Youth Authority (NYA)
National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP)

This significantly reduced the Ministry’s direct institutional leverage over employment creation.

The Ministry was therefore operating with fewer of the traditional agencies and instruments required to drive large‑scale employment interventions. This was compounded by relatively constrained budgetary resources compared with the enormous expectations placed on a ministry whose mandate includes labour administration, employment promotion and worker welfare.

Against this background, the record of the Ministry under Dr. Pelpuo is worth examining.

US$82 Million German Grant for Youth Employment

One notable initiative was the Minister’s engagement with the private sector and international partners to mobilise resources for youth employment.

Through these efforts, a German investor committed approximately US$82 million in grant financing toward a programme designed to train young people in various skills and provide start‑up support to enable beneficiaries to establish businesses.

The programme was intended to benefit young people across the regions and was expected to commence in September.

If successfully implemented, such an intervention could provide an important pathway for young people who may otherwise struggle to find formal employment.

US$50 Million Grant for a Skills‑Training University

Another significant initiative was the mobilisation of an additional US$50 million grant toward establishing a skills‑training university in Ghana.

The proposed institution is intended to provide practical vocational and technical training, equipping young people with skills that can lead to self‑employment and entrepreneurship.

At a time when graduate unemployment remains a major national concern, the emphasis on skills development represents an alternative approach to the traditional expectation that government must provide direct employment.

The philosophy is straightforward: equip young people with marketable skills and the capacity to create their own livelihoods.

Reviving the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI)

The Ministry also made interventions at the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), an institution that has existed for decades and provides training and capacity‑building services to public and private organisations.

According to its leadership, including Director Professor Elijah Yendaw, the Ministry under Dr. Pelpuo provided support that strengthened MDPI’s operations.

Developments cited include:

Acquisition of a new office complex
Efforts to reclaim more than 20 hectares of encroached land
Increased visibility of the institution
Ongoing efforts to amend the legislation governing its operations

These interventions matter because institutions like MDPI play a vital role in improving productivity and strengthening Ghana’s workforce.

Strengthening the Factories Inspectorate

The Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI), responsible for workplace safety and compliance, also received attention.

Under the Ministry’s direction, the Department:

Acquired a new office complex
Established regional task forces to improve workplace safety compliance
Recorded a substantial increase in revenue mobilisation—reportedly achieving about 600 percent growth in 2025, with projections of generating more than GH¢200 million by the end of 2026

Such outcomes require deliberate policy direction and institutional reform.

Labour Export and New Opportunities for Ghanaian Workers

The Ministry collaborated with the Youth Employment Authority on a labour‑export initiative that facilitated employment opportunities for more than 1,000 Ghanaian workers abroad.

For a country grappling with unemployment and underemployment, opening legitimate international labour pathways provides additional opportunities for skilled Ghanaians.

The objective is not simply to export labour, but to create structured, regulated pathways for accessing decent employment outside the country.

Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS)

Another major development was the establishment of the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS).

The platform is intended to:

Improve the connection between jobseekers and employers
Provide access to employment opportunities
Help employers identify suitable candidates

In an increasingly digital labour market, such systems are essential to reducing information gaps.

Reducing Industrial Disruptions

Industrial relations—often less visible but economically critical—also saw improvements.

According to figures cited:

Ghana recorded eight strikes and industrial actions in 2025
Three in 2026
Compared with more than 22 in 2024

Industrial action disrupts public services, affects productivity and imposes significant costs. Figures from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission indicate that industrial actions in 2024 cost government approximately GH¢1.47 billion.

The ability to resolve disputes quickly therefore has substantial economic value.

Youth Employment in Agriculture

The Ministry signed an MoU with a Swiss investor to establish agricultural farms aimed at creating employment opportunities for young people.

Land has reportedly been secured in the Eastern Region, with implementation expected soon.

This aligns with the broader objective of positioning agriculture as a viable source of employment and enterprise.

Wage Negotiations and Workers’ Welfare

On workers’ welfare, the Ministry participated in National Tripartite Committee negotiations that resulted in a 9 percent adjustment in the national daily minimum wage.

Work also continued toward establishing the Independent Emoluments Commission, with legislation under consideration to address wage disparities and distortions in the public sector.

These negotiations are politically sensitive and require considerable engagement and compromise.

Strengthening the Ministry and Its Agencies

There are indications that the Ministry’s budgetary allocation increased significantly during the period.

Agencies such as the Labour Commission credited improved resource availability with enabling them to discharge their mandates more effectively.

The establishment of an Annual National Labour Conference and interventions aimed at tackling child labour—particularly in cocoa‑growing communities—also formed part of the Ministry’s efforts.

The Bigger Picture

The record presented does not suggest that everything was perfect. No ministry is without challenges, and no minister should be beyond scrutiny.

But it does suggest that the argument that Dr. Pelpuo was removed simply due to underperformance requires a more nuanced examination.

His approach appeared to prioritise partnerships, resource mobilisation and quiet, outcome‑focused work rather than constant public announcements.

Public administration should ultimately be judged by outcomes.

His approximately 18 months at the Ministry produced initiatives spanning:

International investment
Skills development
Labour migration
Digital employment services
Workplace safety
Industrial relations
Wage negotiations
Institutional strengthening
Youth employment

Whether these initiatives achieve their intended long‑term outcomes is a separate question—one that will be answered through implementation and measurable results.

But the initiatives themselves demonstrate activity, innovation and policy engagement during his tenure.

The Upper West Question

Beyond Dr. Pelpuo himself, another issue deserves attention: the representation of the Upper West Region at the highest level of government decision‑making.

The recent reshuffle means the region no longer has a Cabinet Minister, generating understandable concern among residents and stakeholders.

The argument that the Upper West Region is represented through the Speaker of Parliament does not fully resolve the concern. The Speaker:

Is elected by Parliament, not appointed by the President
Does not sit in Cabinet
Does not participate in Cabinet deliberations in the same capacity as a Cabinet Minister

If regional representation in Cabinet were unnecessary because a region has another influential officeholder, the same logic could apply to regions represented by the President or Vice‑President—clearly an untenable basis for determining Cabinet representation.

The concern is not about one individual. It is about whether the Upper West Region continues to have a voice at the highest executive decision‑making table.

Historically, the region has produced individuals who have served at senior levels of government—from Iddrisu Mahama and Edward Salia under Rawlings to Alban Bagbin, Joseph Yieleh Chireh and Benjamin Kunbuor under President Atta Mills.

The region has repeatedly demonstrated its leadership capacity.

Beyond the Noise

This intervention is not an appeal for sympathy for Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, nor an attempt to persuade President John Dramani Mahama to reverse his decision.

The President’s constitutional authority to appoint and reshuffle ministers must be respected.

Rather, this is an attempt to place facts before the public.

Dr. Pelpuo has experienced political uncertainty before—such as in 2013 when his expected appointment as Minister of Health was changed shortly before announcement, followed by a brief designation as Minister of Tourism that was altered within 24 hours.

His response has consistently been calm.
Perhaps that is why the time has come for the noise to settle and for the record to speak for itself.

The question should not simply be why Dr. Rashid Pelpuo was reshuffled.

The more useful question is: What did he do while he was there?

And on that question, the record deserves a fair hearing.

Sometimes, when the noise dies down, the facts can finally be heard.

By Senator Suleman Nabie‑Ikyei
[email protected]