ILO, NIRAS partnership strengthens productivity and decent work in Ghana agriculture

ACCRA, Ghana – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and NIRAS International Consulting (NIRAS A/S) have signed a cooperation agreement, supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), to improve productivity and decent work across Ghana's oil palm and cashew value chains. The 16-month partnership will help enterprises and workers turn productivity gains into safer workplaces, better working conditions and stronger businesses. It responds to interconnected challenges including low mechanisation, limited processing capacity, informality, occupational risks, unstable incomes and inadequate social protection.

Agriculture employed about five million people during the first three quarters of 2025, while more than 200,000 farmers are engaged in cashew production, according to figures cited in the project. Ghana also plans significant expansion of oil palm production, creating an opportunity to ensure growth generates quality jobs alongside higher output. “Our responsibility is not only to support growth but also to ensure it creates productive employment, safer workplaces, stronger enterprises and decent work for the women and men who make these value chains possible,” said Dr Vanessa Phala-Moyo, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and Liaison Office for ECOWAS.

At enterprise level, participating SMEs will apply the ILO's Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) methodology to strengthen workplace organisation, productivity and occupational safety and health. Managers and workers will identify hazards, develop practical improvement plans and implement measures aimed at reducing accidents, injuries, absenteeism and productivity losses.

The partnership will particularly benefit women and vulnerable workers through gender-responsive workplaces, stronger protective measures and greater participation in workplace decision-making. It will also strengthen workers' and employers' organisations to address grievances and workplace challenges through structured social dialogue. “True competitiveness is measured not only by output but also by the dignity, safety and empowerment of the people who drive production,” said Mr Matej Dudak of NIRAS.

Representatives mark the ILO–NIRAS cooperation agreement to strengthen productivity and decent work in Ghana’s oil palm and cashew value chains.

For workers, the initiative is expected to increase voice, representation and workplace safety. For enterprises, improved work organisation, safer production and stronger labour-management cooperation can boost efficiency, resilience and competitiveness. Lessons from participating enterprises will also inform broader discussions on labour standards, productivity and decent work. “For too long, workers in Ghana's oil palm and cashew value chains have remained largely invisible. This intervention will strengthen their organisation, improve occupational safety and health, and help ensure they benefit more fairly from the value they create,” said Mr Richard Acheampong of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The Ghana Employers' Association (GEA) will support employer mobilisation, dialogue, capacity development and the sharing of practical lessons. “GEA is ready to support the project through employer mobilisation, dialogue, capacity development and the sharing of practical lessons. We welcome opportunities to help participating enterprises integrate occupational safety and health into broader productivity and management systems,” said Mr Kingsley Laar of GEA.

Beyond participating workplaces, the partnership seeks to demonstrate a scalable model in which productivity and decent work reinforce one another. Evidence and lessons generated will support dialogue with government, employers and workers on integrating labour standards, occupational safety and health, and productivity into value-chain and policy processes.

Ultimately, the initiative aims to build more competitive, inclusive and sustainable oil palm and cashew sectors where enterprises perform better, workers are safer and better represented, and economic growth delivers decent work across Ghana.

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