KEY POINTS

• Bawumia meets TUC leaders to discuss wages, living costs and workers’ welfare.

• Youth employment, pensions and disability inclusion feature in the talks.

• Both sides agree to follow up on specific issues in subsequent meetings.

Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has met with the leadership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to discuss measures to improve workers’ welfare, address the cost of living and expand employment opportunities for young people.

The meeting took place at the TUC Hall on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as part of Bawumia’s ongoing consultations with key stakeholders.

According to a statement he shared on Facebook, the discussions covered living wages, youth employment, pension improvements, disability inclusion and the need to strengthen Ghana’s economic resilience against external shocks.

Bawumia said the engagement provided an opportunity to discuss challenges facing Ghanaian workers and explore ways to improve their living conditions.

Living wages and cost of living take centre stage

The cost of living and the delivery of a living wage were among the major issues discussed during the meeting.

The discussions focused on the need to improve workers’ purchasing power and ensure that wages better reflect the financial pressures facing households.

A living wage generally refers to earnings sufficient to meet essential needs, including food, housing, healthcare and other basic expenses.

Bawumia said the engagement allowed both sides to exchange views on issues affecting workers and consider approaches to improving their welfare.

Youth employment and pensions discussed

Youth unemployment was another key issue raised during the meeting, with Bawumia highlighting the importance of expanding job opportunities for young people.

The discussions also covered pensions, which remain central to workers’ financial security after retirement.

Improving pension arrangements could help workers prepare for life after employment and strengthen their long-term economic security.

Disability inclusion was also included in the discussions, pointing to the need to consider the circumstances and needs of persons with disabilities in employment and social protection policies.

Bawumia proposes social contract with organised labour

The NPP flagbearer said the meeting also explored the possibility of establishing a social contract between government and organised labour.

Such an arrangement could provide a framework for cooperation on workers’ welfare, employment, economic policy and responses to external economic shocks.

Bawumia said the objective was to build economic resilience through dialogue and collaboration between government and labour.

He expressed appreciation to the TUC leadership and its constituent groups for participating in what he described as an open discussion.

He added that both sides had agreed to follow up on specific issues at subsequent meetings, although the report did not provide details of any concrete commitments or policy agreements reached.