Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana’s finance minister, has revealed that the government has launched measures to formalise Ghanaian labour exports to other countries.
The program is part of the Ghana Labour Export Programme, which was announced by President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 elections.
Under the plan, skilled Ghanaian workers would be offered the option to work abroad for specific periods of time in order to gain experience while also contributing to host nations’ economies.
In exchange, the plan is supposed to create cash for Ghana and contribute to lowering the country’s high unemployment rate.
On Tuesday, March 11th, Dr Forson presented the 2025 Budget and Economic Policy Statement before Parliament, stating that measures to formalise the policy are already in place.
Starting this year, we shall formalise the export of Ghanaian workers to other countries. We will establish an organised and beneficial system for Ghanaian workers seeking employment overseas, providing safer and legal avenues while protecting their rights and welfare.
He added:
Mr. Speaker, this will also serve to decrease illegal migration, avoid worker exploitation, and maximise the economic benefits of remittances, thereby increasing foreign exchange revenues.
Furthermore, in his speech, the Minister officially announced the government’s decision to repeal the much-debated COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, bringing an end to a tax scheme that had sparked significant resistance since its implementation in 2021.
The 1% charge, which applied to both the supply of products and services as well as imports, was initially implemented to aid Ghana’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, after the pandemic subsided and daily life resumed, many Ghanaians questioned the tax’s continued usefulness.