As Ghana seeks to accelerate industrialisation, attract investment and improve competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), policymakers and development partners are increasingly turning their attention to an often overlooked driver of economic growth: the relationship between employers and workers.
That connection took centre stage at the 2026 National Labour Conference in Ho, where participants argued that sustained economic transformation will depend not only on fiscal reforms and infrastructure investment but also on stronger labour relations, higher workplace productivity and effective social dialogue capable of reducing industrial disputes and creating stable conditions for business expansion.
Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, Ms. Magdalena Wüst, said Ghana’s development trajectory depends not only on capital investment but also on “effective social dialogue,” stronger institutional coordination and the expansion of “decent jobs” that provide dignity and security for workers. She noted that productivity and decent work are “mutually reinforcing,” arguing that enterprises become more competitive when working conditions improve, while employees benefit from safer and more stable employment.
The Swiss-Ghana development cooperation, particularly through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs’ Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work (PE4DW) programme, was referenced as a key intervention supporting enterprise competitiveness alongside labour welfare improvements. Wüst described productivity as “working smarter” rather than increasing labour intensity, adding that such an approach enables businesses to grow while also allowing workers to prosper and economies to flourish.
She further emphasised that productivity gains require “shared responsibility” across employers, workers, government institutions, and training providers, arguing that sustainable improvements emerge when labour systems are anchored in collaboration and skills development. According to her, structured dialogue plays a preventive role in industrial relations, with “social dialogue” helping to reduce workplace tensions before they escalate into disputes.
On trade and competitiveness, she pointed to Ghana’s ongoing industrialisation agenda, the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy policy, and efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that improvements in logistics, customs systems, and border efficiency are central to strengthening “trade facilitation” and expanding job opportunities, particularly for young people and women.
She added that investments in skills development, quality infrastructure, and productivity systems will be critical as Ghana positions itself as a regional trade hub, stressing that such reforms support both enterprise growth and broader employment creation.
The conference brought together government officials, organised labour, employers, researchers, and development partners to review strategies for strengthening labour relations and advancing inclusive economic growth through coordinated policy and institutional reforms.
