Minister-designate for Employment, Labour, and Job Creation, Rasheed Pelpuo, has clarified remarks he made in 2015 regarding employment opportunities for unskilled individuals, which became a controversial campaign issue ahead of the 2016 elections.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday (30 January) Pelpuo recounted how, during a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile in 2015, he referenced a conversation with a specialist who explained that “everyone can work,” regardless of education or skills.
He stated that his comments were taken out of context and later used politically in the lead-up to the 2016 elections.
“I was at newsfile in 2015 and Ghana was getting hot, campaigning was on for the election 2016. I explained that whiles I was coming I met a specialist and he explained to me that everybody can work. And he cited those examples”.
“The person I met explained that even those without education or formal skills could still find ways to earn a living. He cited examples such as gathering stones for sale near construction sites or cutting grass to sell to livestock owners. These were practical ways for people to engage in some form of work and sustain themselves”, he told the Committee.
“And he didn’t say graduates because I heard people say I said graduates, I never said that”, he stressed.
Pelpuo stressed that his comments were not targeted at graduates but rather at unskilled individuals looking for means of survival. However, he said the opposition selectively quoted his statement, leading to misinterpretation.
“When I realized the conversation was being misrepresented in the 2016 campaign, I sought the full tape and even tried to locate the man who gave me the idea, but he was nowhere to be found,” he added.
The nominee reaffirmed his commitment to advancing job creation policies that provide meaningful employment opportunities for all Ghanaians, ensuring that the country moves beyond subsistence livelihoods toward sustainable careers.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom
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