Ghana workforce protection: Proposed legislative framework for AI integration

To mitigate risks associated with digital expansion and artificial intelligence, a proposed policy framework for Ghana suggests several legislative and structural reforms. Key concerns include the “AI Layoff Trap,” the erosion of the white-collar tax base, and potential graduate unemployment caused by automated workflows.

The framework recommends four primary actions: first, amending the Labour Act (Act 651) to define “Algorithmic and Technological Displacement” and requiring companies to report on AI integration and contribute to retraining funds. Second, providing statutory backing for a GH¢5 billion National AI Fund by earmarking a percentage of digital communications levies. Third, elevating Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to strategic parity by focusing on non-automatable physical skills like industrial electrical engineering and renewable energy maintenance.