Pass Occupational Safety Bill now – KNUST Professor urges Government
By DL News
Published
Updated
1 min read
The appeal was made by Professor Emmanuel Adinyira, Professor of Construction Project Management at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), during his Professorial Inaugural Lecture themed “Beyond the Fence: Transfer...
The government has been called upon to urgently pass the Occupational Safety and Health Bill and strengthen enforcement of existing environmental laws to protect Ghanaian workers and communities.
The appeal was made by Professor Emmanuel Adinyira, Professor of Construction Project Management at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), during his Professorial Inaugural Lecture themed “Beyond the Fence: Transferring Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Knowledge from Construction Sites to Host Communities.”
Prof. Adinyira noted that while Ghana has several environmental and safety laws on paper — including the Environmental Protection Act, the Water Resources Commission Act, and the Hazardous Electronic Waste Control and Management Act — poor enforcement has left the country vulnerable.
“Having the right laws alone is simply not enough,” he argued, stressing that agencies such as the Factories Inspectorate, Labour Department, and Environmental Protection Authority must be adequately resourced to carry out their mandates effectively.
He warned that Ghana’s poor HSE performance is undermining national development and slowing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), citing reports that show worsening outcomes in 26% of targets.
According to him, the consequences are already evident: polluted water bodies, soil contamination from illegal mining, threats to agricultural exports, rising health costs, and environmental damage with long-term implications.
Turning to the construction industry, Prof. Adinyira highlighted a major gap between formal contractors, who operate with technical expertise and safety standards, and host communities who often lack even basic HSE awareness.
He argued that contractors must move beyond limiting safety practices to worksites and instead transfer this knowledge to surrounding communities that often face risks from construction activities.
Way forward
Prof. Adinyira proposed a collaborative approach where government, industry, and academia reimagine construction as a platform for social empowerment and sustainability.
He concluded by stressing that passing the Occupational Safety and Health Bill, coupled with effective enforcement and community engagement, is critical to safeguarding lives, protecting the environment, and building a sustainable future.
