Dr. Bernice Welbeck, the acting Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC), has urged a full transformation of the workforce to support the long-term viability of Ghana's 24-hour economy.
She mentioned that transforming the workforce involves developing new approaches to update the workforce through skill enhancement, redefining positions and company frameworks for long-term quality employment, incorporating emerging technologies, and fostering cultural changes to address changing business demands and difficulties.
"We need to rethink how we train, assign, and assist employees, as well as how we carry out our roles, within a 24-hour economic system. That's the only path to success," she emphasized.
Discussing the theme, "Workforce transformation: Creating a competent, flexible, and driven workforce for the 24-Hour Economy," at a Discussion on the 24-hour economy, hosted by Berkha Africa and the Institute of Directors in Accra, she called on those involved in the labor sector to plan effectively to participate in the emerging economy.
"A 24-hour economy demands a shift in the workforce," she emphasized, urging all involved parties, especially employers and labor unions, to work together to improve job performance and compensation systems in line with global standards for fair employment.
The Dialogue Meeting, themed "Innovating for Growth: Adapting Business Models to Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy," gathered more than 100 leaders from various stakeholder organizations and companies in essential sectors such as finance, manufacturing, mining, hospitality, and agriculture. It provided an important forum to turn policy goals into practical ideas and foster partnerships between the public and private sectors.
The participants called on government and organizational representatives to go beyond words and take deliberate, quantifiable actions to start the implementation phase, warning that the ambitious national plan could fail without clear, measurable targets to direct its execution.
Dr. Alfred Braimah, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Directors, in his comments urged actionable measures for the effective execution of the policy, warning against mere verbal support.
He stated that the Institute is dedicated to assisting stakeholders in developing strategic procedures for achieving quality results within a 24-hour operational system.
Professor Michael Kpessa-Whyte, head of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), emphasized the government's preparedness and strategic readiness to implement the initiative, noting that multiple measures are being carried out to improve the management of public institutions, allowing them to function effectively in the emerging economy.
"Good corporate governance serves as the driving force behind a sustainable 24-hour economy," he stated, mentioning that SIGA is reconfiguring several investments to improve their sustainability and involvement in the emerging economy. He also emphasized SIGA's dedication to transforming Specified Entities by implementing strong governance systems, disciplined investment approaches, and strategic monitoring.
"SIGA's responsibility goes beyond monitoring SEs; it involves creating governance frameworks that promote transparency, readiness for investment, and accountability. We are implementing integrated risk and compliance dashboards, upholding ESG standards, and collaborating with industry experts to make Ghana's 24-hour productivity goal a lasting economic achievement," he added.
To achieve proper coordination during the implementation phase, he advocated for cooperation across different sectors to harmonize tax benefits, energy strategies, labor regulations, and digital systems in support of the project.
Abdul Nasser Alidu, the Head of Strategy and Programmes at the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, provided a summary of the policy execution, stating that the initiative was being carefully designed to encourage involvement from the private sector.
He mentioned that feasibility studies are being conducted to identify several projects that would be suitable for private sector investment and involvement.
"We are not just prepared to execute; we are creating real-time sector-specific participation frameworks to guarantee equitable implementation," he mentioned.
Mr. Austin Gamey, a well-known labor advisor and the CEO of Gamey and Gamey Group, urged all parties involved, especially employers and unions, to show firm dedication to the economic transformation plan, noting that the nation's labor laws have sufficient clauses to support a 24-hour work system.
This dedication, he mentioned, is essential to allow employers and employees to work together and collaboratively address labor issues that could arise during the implementation of the 24-hour policy.
From his perspective, Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah, a leadership coach and President of the International Coaching Federation-Ghana, reminded those involved that the new economic policy would only succeed if it is centered on people and driven by productivity.
He stated that this was due to the fact that systems by themselves would not yield the desired outcomes, unless the individuals who operate the production are adequately aware of the goals of the new economy through effective leadership and change management.
Mrs. Lizzy-Ann Kwagbedzi, Country Lead at Berkha Africa, mentioned that while adopting a 24-hour economy offers substantial opportunities for generating employment, promoting industrial development, expanding services, and enhancing global competitiveness, it demands courageous leadership, creative ideas, and joint efforts among different sectors.
The structuring of the Dialogue by Berkha Africa, she mentioned, highlights their role in establishing a forum that unites leaders from the business sector, trade unions, and public services to share insights, address challenges, and drive practical transformation.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).