Ghana Inaugurates National Committee to Advance Labour Export – But Are We Ready for What That Really Means?
A few months ago, my cousin called me from Dubai. It was one of those scratchy, delayed WhatsApp calls that always make you repeat yourself three times. He’d just landed a security job through an agency in Accra. “Bro, this place diɛ, the hustle be different—but at least I dey see results,” he said, half-laughing, half-exhausted.
That call stuck with me. Not just because he was excited, but because he sounded free. Like he’d finally caught a break.
So when I heard that Ghana has officially inaugurated a national committee to push forward labour export, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I get it—jobs are scarce, people are frustrated, and many feel like success is a plane ticket away. But on the other hand… I don’t know. It makes me nervous.
Labour export, for those not totally in the loop, is basically a formal way of connecting Ghanaian workers—especially youth—to job opportunities abroad. This new committee is supposed to streamline that, ensure ethical recruitment, and, I assume, reduce the risk of exploitation.
Sounds good on paper. But here’s the thing—how many times have we heard beautiful policy announcements that never actually touch the ground?
I might be wrong, but in my experience, most people who travel for work do so through unregulated, informal routes. A friend of mine paid over GH₵25,000 to a “connection man” who vanished right after his supposed visa interview. (Let’s not even start with how he had to sell his taxi to raise the cash.)
So yes, a national committee sounds promising. If they actually walk the talk.
But there’s something else we don’t talk about enough—why people are so desperate to leave in the first place. I mean, it’s not just about “adventure” or “seeing the world.” It’s survival. Pure and simple.
Youth unemployment is off the charts. Prices are rising. You walk into town and people are either opening betting shops or selling perfumes on their heads. We can’t all become TikTok influencers or forex traders, right?
So if the government is taking this step to give people a real shot abroad—legally, safely, and fairly—I say go for it. But it needs more than suits and speeches. We need systems. Monitoring. Follow-ups. Support. Not just before they leave, but after they get there. Because let’s be real—Ghanaians working abroad are often overworked, underpaid, and underprotected.
And here's a thought that keeps circling in my head: Should we be proud of exporting our youth, or worried that we can't give them opportunities right here at home?
I get it—remittances help. They boost the economy. They keep families going. But still, there’s something bittersweet about being known more for your exported labour than your homegrown success.
Anyway, maybe I’m overthinking it. Or maybe not.
What do you think? Should labour export be a stepping stone—or a last resort?
blogpay
Total Comments: 0