Multi-Stakeholder workshop advances decent work and financial inclusion in Ghana

The International Labour Organization (ILO) successfully hosted a groundbreaking two-day workshop titled “Innovating for Inclusion: Financial Solutions to Advance Decent Work.” Held from 5–6 May in Accra, the event brought together key stakeholders—trade unions, civil society organizations, financial institutions, and government representatives—to co-create financial strategies that enhance economic resilience for cocoa farmers, migrant workers, and artisanal and small-scale miners.

National Project Coordinator of the ILO, Mr. Abubakari Kamil, who represented the ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Ms Vanessa Phala, set the tone for the discussions, emphasizing the persistent decent work deficits that hinder sustainable development. She stated that “Limited access to social protection, fair recruitment practices, and financial services continue to challenge vulnerable workers. Through collaboration and innovation, we can develop solutions that drive meaningful change,” she stated.

Director of Education and Training at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Kennedy Atong Achakoma, underscored the critical role of financial inclusion in achieving decent work outcomes. He stressed that while people overlooked economic barriers, financial solutions were pivotal in ensuring access to social protection, productive employment, and income security.

Organized by three interlinked ILO projects—ACCEL Africa, Fair Recruitment Initiative – Phase III, and Climate Cocoa—this workshop demonstrated the collective commitment of ILO’s partners in addressing inequalities through finance. Plenary sessions featured expert discussions on reducing child labour in cocoa supply chains, strengthening fair recruitment practices for migrant workers, and developing financial services tailored to informal and low-income workers.

A Collaborative Approach to Change

An integral part of the workshop was the interactive co-creation sessions, where participants collaboratively designed inclusive financial models, including credit and savings products linked to social protection, responsible mobile money solutions, and group-based financial literacy initiatives. This firsthand engagement fostered a community of practice, enabling peer learning and strengthening cross-sector partnerships. The workshop enhanced the capacity of the beneficiaries on child/forced labour and on how to link up financial inclusion with decent work fundamental principles at work. They also learnt about how to co-create constructive collaboration of actions for the financial sector to contribute to the elimination of child and forced labour.

By integrating inclusive finance into the Decent Work Agenda, this initiative directly supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

The ILO remains committed to fostering economic inclusion through sustainable financial solutions. The outcomes of this workshop will guide future efforts to create resilient economies that work for all, ensuring decent work for vulnerable populations across Ghana and beyond.