The Department of Co-operatives has underscored the immense potential of the co-operative sector to spearhead job creation, boost agricultural development, and help address critical national issues like illegal mining.
During a recent familiarization visit from Parliament’s Select Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions to the Department’s offices in Accra, officials laid out a compelling vision for a revitalized co-operative movement. The visit was designed to provide Parliamentarians with a deeper understanding of the Department’s mandate and operational challenges and to explore avenues for impactful collaboration.
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“Co-operatives can drive job growth and youth engagement,” stated Mr. Abubakar Abdul-Malik, Assistant Registrar at the Department of Co-operatives. He emphasized the Department’s ambition: “We aim to strengthen the co-operative sector through engagement with parliamentarians and stakeholders.”
Department officials expressed keen interest in leveraging co-operatives to improve labour relations and workforce development. Mr. Abdul-Malik extended a hopeful invitation for synergy, remarking, “We look forward to a productive and informative discussion…Let’s work together to promote cooperative development and foster collaboration.”
The discussions highlighted how a robust co-operative sector could significantly contribute to Ghana’s economic growth. Mr. Apraku Yeboah, the Acting Registrar, pointed out the adaptive capacity of modern co-operatives, noting, “Co-operatives can leverage technology to reach customers and improve services.”
However, officials also candidly presented the hurdles facing the Department, including inadequate staffing levels, dilapidated office infrastructure at national, regional, and district levels, insufficient capacity-building opportunities, and a shortage of funds and essential logistics.
Responding positively, the Chairman of the Select Committee, Hon. Joseph Appiah Boateng, called for strong collaboration between Parliament and the Department. He stressed the importance of a unified approach to achieving common goals within the sector, signalling a parliamentary willingness to support the reinvigoration of co-operatives as a vital tool for national progress.