Ghana’s cooperative movement received a major boost toward modernisation and national integration as key government officials and development partners gathered to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, in partnership with the Ghana Co-operative Council, was held under the global theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World.”

The strongest call of the day came from Mr Augustus Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, who delivered a blunt assessment of the sector’s current legal and structural limitations.

He described Ghana’s continued reliance on the 1992 cooperative legislation as “unacceptable,” warning that the country risks falling even further behind its African peers if reforms are not urgently prioritised.

“The fact that we are still pretending to operate the 1992 legislation is unacceptable. We must accept that we are far behind sister African countries in their cooperative movement and in their development and rationalisation to respond to new technology and a new economy,” Mr Tanoh stated.

He announced that the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat is ready to collaborate with cooperative associations nationwide to mobilise funding and technical support aimed at revitalising and modernising the cooperative support system.

Mr. Tanoh emphasised that cooperatives will be integrated directly into the 24-hour economy flagship programmes, ensuring that national policy and on-the-ground practice reinforce each other.

“We must, as a priority, reform Ghana’s cooperative law in a participatory and inclusive manner,” he added.

Eyram Dotse Kwami Tottimeh delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo. He highlighted the government’s recognition of cooperatives as a key engine for national transformation.

“Cooperatives play a significant role in achieving the key outcomes of national employment policy, poverty reduction, the national green jobs strategy, youth entrepreneurship initiatives, gender equality, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

He added that the government is strengthening partnerships with development agencies to expand technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives across all 16 regions.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Oforikrom, Anwel Sadat Ahmed, appealed to young people to embrace cooperatives as a modern pathway for innovation and self-employment.

“Cooperatives are not an outdated system, but a modern dynamic platform that empowers individuals and communities to shape their own futures,” he said.

The Ghana Co-operative Council joined the global cooperative community in marking the 2025 celebration, reaffirming the sector’s importance to national development.

Cooperatives are largely made up of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that remain a backbone of Ghana’s economy, employing over 80% of the workforce and contributing more than 70% of GDP.