Bawumia Calls for Urgent Legislation to Protect Ghanaian Workers as AI Reshapes the Job Market

Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia has called on Ghana to put in place dedicated legislation to protect workers from the growing threat of job losses driven by artificial intelligence. Bawumia is pushing for a collaborative approach that brings together government, trade unions, employers and technology experts to craft rules that include built-in retraining programmes for workers whose roles may be disrupted by AI-powered systems.

What Bawumia is proposing

At the heart of Bawumia's proposal is the idea that no single actor can address the challenge of AI-driven unemployment alone. He envisions a multi-stakeholder framework in which policymakers set the legal boundaries, unions advocate for workers' rights, businesses disclose how they intend to deploy AI in their operations, and technology specialists help design practical retraining pathways.

The former Vice President's emphasis on retraining is significant. Rather than simply restricting how companies use AI, the proposed framework would require that workers be equipped with new skills before or shortly after their existing roles are automated. This places Ghana's potential approach closer to models being discussed in parts of Europe and East Asia, where governments are already legislating so-called just transition provisions for workers affected by technological change.

Bawumia has long positioned himself as Ghana's foremost political advocate for digital transformation, having championed a string of digitisation initiatives during his time as Vice President — from the Ghana Card rollout to the digitalisation of government services. His latest call, however, marks a notable shift in tone: acknowledging that the same technological wave he has enthusiastically promoted can also cause serious economic harm if left unregulated.

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana's labour market is particularly vulnerable to AI disruption. A large share of the workforce is employed in sectors — including customer service, data entry, banking back-office operations, and routine administrative roles — that global research consistently identifies as highly susceptible to automation in the near term.

At the same time, Ghana's formal social safety net remains limited. Unlike workers in wealthier countries who may have access to robust unemployment benefits during periods of retraining, many Ghanaian workers who lose jobs to automation could face immediate financial hardship with little institutional support. This makes proactive legislation, rather than a reactive response after mass layoffs occur, especially important.

Trade unions in Ghana, including the Trades Union Congress, have in recent years begun raising concerns about automation and its implications for their membership. Any legislative process of the kind Bawumia envisions would likely need to engage these bodies early, ensuring that the voices of workers on the ground shape the final rules rather than leaving the process dominated by tech industry interests.

Ghana also has a relatively young population, with a significant proportion of job-seekers entering a labour market that is already under pressure. If AI adoption accelerates without a corresponding investment in digital skills and reskilling infrastructure, youth unemployment — already a persistent concern — could worsen considerably.

The bigger picture across Africa

Ghana would not be acting in isolation if it moved ahead with AI labour protections. Across Africa, the conversation about governing artificial intelligence is gaining momentum. The African Union has been developing a continental AI strategy, and several member states are at various stages of drafting national AI policies. However, legislation with specific provisions for worker protection and mandatory retraining remains rare on the continent, meaning Ghana has an opportunity to set a meaningful precedent.

For now, Bawumia's call is a proposal rather than a formal bill, and with the NPP currently in opposition following the December 2024 general election, turning the idea into law would require the governing National Democratic Congress to take it up or for the NPP to advance it through private member legislation. Nonetheless, the proposal keeps an important conversation alive — one that Ghana, and indeed all of Africa, cannot afford to ignore as AI reshapes economies worldwide.