Rashid Pelpuo, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, has revealed that Ghana has moved from the 10th richest country in Africa to the 8th within a year under President John Mahama’s leadership.
According to the Labour Minister, Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) now exceeds GH¢100 billion.
He argued that Ghana’s economic position on the continent has strengthened significantly under the current John Mahama-led NDC government.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Rashid Pelpuo stated, “This government is a committed government. The president has shown that leadership can change a lot. With this one year that just passed, Ghana can be different altogether. We were in 10th position when it comes to rich countries.
After one year of administration, good governance and committed leadership, we shot up to the 8th position, with a GDP that is above GH¢100 billion,” he stated.
Also, the Labour Minister maintained that the government remains focused on sustaining the gains through job creation and strategic labour policies aimed at improving standards across the country.
In related news, Dr Rashid Pelpuo has said the John Mahama adminstration need to make sure 3 million people are employed.
According to the Labour Minister, the government is not setting a fixed employment target for this year, but they are focusing on job creation for about 3 million.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Monday, January 12, Dr Pelpuo stated, “We will not be able to give a targeted number. He explained that even if current unemployment is addressed within a year, new job seekers will continue to enter the labour market. “If we solve it this year, next year, new people are going to finish university. They are going to be asking for more.”
“We have taken note that we need to make sure 3 million people are employed,” he said, clarifying that this should not be seen as a formal target. “I’m not saying that’s our target. That’s the 3 million people that we need to employ.”
The Labour Minister added, “Some of them are not satisfied with their work; they still need to get more jobs, or they don’t have a job at all. That segment of the population is our target right now.”
“Remember, I’m saying that that’s not a target. That’s not something we are doing. But we have noticed that this number is where we are going to go into and create the jobs.”
“For the period of time I’m talking about, we are targeting these 3 million people who are either employed and not happy with their employment, or they are not employed at all. These are people we believe are going to be the beneficiaries,” Dr Pelpuo explained.
“How much will be done this year is what I cannot tell you,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of Government Communications and Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, has declared that the John Mahama-led NDC government has the best economic record under Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
In a social media post, Felix Kwakye Ofosu detailed why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds the strongest economic record in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
The Minister of Government Communications, using figures and historical records, argued that the NDC’s policies have consistently delivered fiscal stability, economic growth, and strong monetary management.
In a social media post on February 4, 2026, Felix Kwakye Ofosu wrote, “On the back of the 3.8% inflation rate recorded for January, 2026, it bears placing on record that the NDC has the best economic record under the fourth republic as follows.
Highest growth rate of 14.4% in 2011.
Lowest inflation rate of 2.9% in April 1999.
Longest sustained single-digit inflation of 33 months from 2010 to 2012.
Highest annual cedi appreciation of 40.7% against the dollar in 2025
Largest reserves of $ 13.8 billion as of end 2025
Highest import cover of 5.7 months as of end 2025 among others.
There are those who make hubris-laden claims of preternatural economic management ability but deliver the most disastrous outcomes in decades’.
Always check the records”, his post concluded.