ILO STRENGTHEN Project Stakeholders in Ghana call for improved Infrastructure in Agro Processing and Infrastructure.

ACCRA (ILO News): The ILO organized a working group meeting to commission and discuss project studies on two identified sector in Ghana, Housing and Cocoa processing. Present at the round table meeting was the Honourable Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and members of the technical working group established to support the achievement project objectives of coherent policies translating into employment opportunities.

Also present were Mr. Maikel Lieu-Kie-Song and Mr David Cheong, the project’s International Project Managers who in their addresses gave brief remarks on the studies and the STRENGTHEN Project Mr. Cheong mentioned that the project has been in Ghana since 2016 and had undertaken a series of empirical studies, held a number of workshops and strategic meetings. The Project which has two Components, Component A: Employment Impact Assessment and Component B: Effect of Trade on Employment held this meeting mainly to share the preliminary findings of studies currently being undertaken in both components. Component A undertook studies in the Agro processing and infrastructure sectors and Component B undertook the Trade in Value Chains and Employment-Rich Activities (TRAVERA) Survey. The meeting was planned to brief the PWG on the findings of these studies, to collate inputs and questions on studies for incorporation into the final work.

A detailed briefing was made on the cocoa study highlighting the major findings which showed the levels of jobs created; direct, indirect and induced amongst others. This was followed by a briefing on the second study on the findings of the Infrastructure Study. The study focused on assessing direct employment in the sector which shows that policy interventions in this sector were not sustained over the years. Current policy has focused on decent and affordable housing. Both studies aim to deepen the understanding of employment creation in the subsectors indicated and quantify the employment effects of interventions in these sectors. The Respective consultants will be expected to work closely with an international consultant.

In addition, a presentation on the TRAVERA Study and Survey which aims to help developing-country firms, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, integrate into export value chains in a way that results in higher employment and increasing levels of productivity and incomes for workers. The TRAVERA Survey findings presented by Dr Martha Awo National Consultant/ISSER and Dr Andrews Agyei - Holmes, National Consultant/ISSER identified three basic root crops; cassava, yam and sweet potato had high potential for job creation. The survey identified high potential for yam value added for export and thus job creation. However the survey identified a decline in export of yam although it has the most potential in export. The survey was conducted with nearly 200 firms involved in various activities related to the value chain.

The meeting concluded with action points, some of which include:

o Identify use of new technology to improve productivity in the sector.

o Collaborate with GEPA and MOTI on Yam Strategy to address developing the value chain

o Technology, financial access and gender should be integrated into as follow-up to the survey.

o Finalize the studies for broader dissemination.