Accra: The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTDC), in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), marked the 2026 World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The event was supported by the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management (CIHRM) and sponsored by Sandvik, themed 'Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.'
According to Ghana News Agency, the celebration gathered policymakers, academics, human resource practitioners, and students to discuss the importance of creating safe work environments that promote both physical and mental well-being. Prof Joseph Awetori Yaro, Provost of the College of Humanities, University of Ghana, highlighted that the Day, celebrated annually on April 28, aims to promote safer working environments globally by drawing attention to occupational illnesses, injuries, and deaths while encouraging a culture of prevention.
Dr Abdul Rashid Pelpoe, Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, served as the guest speaker. He emphasized the necessity of building systems that protect workers and prevent harm before it occurs. Dr Pelpoe stated that psychosocial hazards are significant and should not be minimized, asserting that workers deserve dignity and safety in their workplaces.
Prof Kwesi Amponsah-Tawiah, Keynote Speaker and lecturer at UGBS, presented alarming statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO). He noted that about 2.93 million workers die annually from occupational accidents and work-related diseases, with nearly 395 million non-fatal injuries recorded each year. Prof Amponsah-Tawiah urged organizations to prioritize improving psychosocial working conditions, highlighting the substantial economic impact of poor mental health, which costs the global economy trillions of dollars annually.