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The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hon. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has called for a new era of partnership between Europe and Africa founded on equality, fairness, and mutual respect.
He made the call when a delegation from the European Parliament, led by Hon. Udo Bullmann, Member of the European Parliament for the Socialist and Democrats, paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry to deepen cooperation and enhance bilateral development ties.
Welcoming the delegation, Hon. Pelpuo emphasized that Ghana and the European Union (EU) share a long history of cooperation that must now evolve into a more balanced relationship driven by shared goals rather than donor–recipient dynamics.
“It is important that we work together as partners, not as subordinates and superiors,” he stated. “Europe and Africa must now work as equals. Our histories are intertwined – our future should be built together, on fairness and opportunity.”
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to job creation as a central pillar of national policy, noting that the administration remains focused on empowering young people through skills development and employment opportunities.
“When we campaigned for office, we made it clear that unemployment was the biggest challenge facing our youth. We have since placed job creation at the heart of our policy drive, and we welcome the EU’s readiness to collaborate in this area,” he added.
Hon. Pelpuo also raised concerns about restrictive export standards that limit Africa’s access to European markets, calling for a more open and flexible trade regime that allows local producers to thrive.
“Even agricultural exports such as fish and legumes face stringent conditions that make it difficult for Ghanaian exporters to access the European market. We believe in high standards, but they must be fair and achievable,” he said.
He further proposed the organization of a joint conference between European and Ghanaian business chambers to discuss and harmonize export requirements in order to promote fair trade and investment.
In his remarks, Hon. Udo Bullmann conveyed condolences to the Government and people of Ghana following a recent tragedy at the El-wak sports stadium.
He commended the resilience and commitment of Ghana’s youth and reaffirmed the EU’s desire to support Ghana’s development agenda through more responsive and collaborative programmes.
“We see in Ghana a huge asset – a young generation eager to serve and contribute to their country’s progress,” Hon. Bullmann said. “Our visit is to listen and understand your priorities so that our support reflects your needs, not just Brussels’ designs.”
Mr. Bullmann noted that the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative aims to mobilize public and private investments for sustainable growth in Africa but stressed the importance of stronger local ownership.
“We want to move away from projects designed solely in Europe. The real success of development cooperation is when local communities and governments co-own the vision,” he stated.
The delegation’s visit to the Ministry formed part of a broader working mission to Ghana, during which they engaged government officials, civil society groups, etc, before returning to Brussels.
