Visit of ILO Director-General to meet GEA President.
The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Mr. Gilbert F Houngbo, recently visited Mr. Dan Acheampong, President of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) in Accra, as part of his three-day working visit to Ghana. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the bilateral partnership between Ghana and the ILO.
During the meeting, Mr Acheampong expressed his gratitude for the ILO’s continuous support in promoting the decent work agenda. The partnership has allowed the GEA to undertake critical research, advocacy, and capacity-building activities for employers in Ghana. With the support of the ILO’s Bureau for Employers Activities (ACT/EMP), the GEA has been able to carry out projects aimed at eliminating child labour and HIV/AIDS, promoting collective bargaining, and settling industrial disputes.
Mr Acheampong also highlighted the importance of social dialogue in achieving sustainable industrial harmony, business expansion, investment attraction, productivity growth, and decent job creation. Looking ahead to 2023, the GEA is seeking support from the ILO for initiatives such as the Promotion of Sustainable Enterprises, the Elimination of Violence and Harassment at the workplace, and support for informal enterprises to leverage the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Mr. Houngbo emphasized the need for enhanced social dialogue to address the economic challenges facing Ghana, which would help to protect employers from the spillovers of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures within the supply chain.
The visit of the ILO Director-General to Ghana and the GEA demonstrated the significance of the partnership between the two entities, according to Mr. Alex Frimpong, Chief Executive Officer of the GEA.