President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he has directed the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations to lead a national dialogue on the “Future of Work” to fashion out a national strategy.

He said the move is to ensure that “...we are not taken by events, such as this pandemic, in the future.”

Speaking at a Virtual May Day celebration on Friday, President Akufo-Addo said his government will intensify the implementation of the four-point national strategy on formalisation to facilitate the identification and provision of support, relief and stimulus packages to businesses and workers in these difficult times.” 

He said, “I also assure organised labour that government will continue to deepen its engagement with them, as we try to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economy, businesses and jobs.”

President Akufo-Addo said his government has “put in place a Resilience and Recovery Plan, hinged on the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme, to support businesses and households, with the overarching aim to ensure economic activity and sustained livelihoods, and on the one billion dollar IMF Rapid Credit Facility to help close the financing gap that has been created as a result of shortfalls in revenues, together with unbudgeted, additional expenditures.” 

The President added, “Equivalent discussions are ongoing with the World Bank to raise more funds, which should be completed soon. I have charged the Ministry of Finance to work with the Bank of Ghana to design innovative policies and find more resources to strengthen the productive sectors of the economy, particularly industry and agriculture, and I understand that the process will shortly yield positive results.”

Closure of Ghana’s borders

The President also extended the closure of the country’s borders by a month.

He said the extension is to enable the country to contain the coronavirus pandemic which is wreaking havoc across the world.

In effect, the closure of all the country’s borders – land, air and sea – will be extended effective May 4. The closures will, however, not apply to goods.

He said the extension is to ensure that there is no risk of importation of coronavirus cases into the country.

Ghana’s coronavirus case count currently stands at 2,074 with 212 recoveries and 17 deaths.