The Member of Parliament for Domeabra-Obom, Isaac Awuku Yibor, is urging the immediate introduction of mandatory insurance and stricter safety regulations for workers involved in high-rise construction and billboard installation across the country.
He warned that the country risks more avoidable deaths if urgent reforms are not implemented.
Addressing Parliament in a statement, the MP described the situation as a “grave national concern” affecting thousands of artisans particularly painters, electricians, billboard installers, masons, and carpenters who he said work daily at dangerous heights with little to no protection.
According to Mr. Yibor, Ghana’s rapid urbanisation and the surge in multi-storey buildings and giant outdoor advertising structures have outpaced regulatory enforcement, exposing many informal workers to life-threatening risks.
He cited findings from the Ghana Institution of Safety Engineers, which ranked construction-related fatalities among the top five occupational deaths in the country in 2023, with a significant number resulting from falls.
Despite this trend, most workers are not covered by any insurance or compensation schemes.
“Recent incidents in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale have shown the devastating consequences of the regulatory vacuum,” he lamented, noting that families often receive no support when breadwinners suffer injury, permanent disability, or death.
The lawmaker argued that the issue goes beyond labour rights, describing it as a public safety and urban governance problem. He criticised Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for lacking the capacity to enforce basic safety standards despite issuing permits for outdoor advertisements.
To address the crisis, the MP proposed five key interventions for government consideration. These include:
- A comprehensive national policy regulating billboard installation and high-rise advertising, prioritising worker safety.
- A mandatory insurance scheme covering injury, disability, or death for workers engaged in these activities.
- Compulsory use of certified protective gear such as helmets, harnesses, and scaffolding.
- Resourcing MMDAs to ensure strict safety compliance at construction and advertising sites.
- Collaboration with industry stakeholders, labour unions, and civil society to develop safety standards and training modules.
“This is not just about protecting livelihoods; it is about protecting human lives,” Mr. Ayibor stressed. “No Ghanaian should be forced to choose between earning a living and preserving their life.”
He urged Parliament and relevant state agencies to take swift action to prevent further tragedies.
“Let us not wait for the next preventable accident before we respond,” he concluded.
