Only 2,000 out of 6,000 factories nationwide inspected last year

By Yaw
Ansah, GNA
     

Accra, Sept. 26. GNA – The Department of
Factories Inspection (DFI) was able to inspect only 2,000 out of a total of
6,000 factories registered nationwide last year due to lack of transportation.

For the past 30 years, the department, which
is under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, had only two vehicles
to execute its mandate of helping organisations to manage and control
occupational safety and health risk as well as reduce occupational accidents
and diseases.

Mr Frederick Ohene-Mensah, Chief Inspector of
Factories at DFI disclosed this when he received five new Nissan Pick-up
vehicles from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, valued at GH¢650,
110 in Accra.

He identified low staff strength as another
major challenge, saying, “Currently, we have only 40 personnel across the
entire country. At least, we need 100 people spread across the 10 regions.”

Mr Ohene-Mensah assured that the vehicles
would help the DFI to undertake proactive monitoring, conduct investigations
and build occupational safety and health at workplaces.

He added that the gesture would improve DFI’s
activities, including prosecution, monitoring and increase the internally
generated funds. 

Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Minister of
Employment and Labour Relations, who handed over the vehicle, said for every
industrial sector to be productive and safe, it needed to meet guidelines of
decent work ethics and standards set by the International Labour Organisation.

Aside, ensuring that organisations comply with
the international standard, which Ghana had signed on to, the re-tooling of the
Department would play a crucial role in achieving the government’s one district
one factory vision, he said.

He said during the Ministry’s budget
preparation, they unanimously agreed to commit its expenditure for capital and
investment to procure vehicles to enhance DFI’s work.

The Minister advised the leadership of the
Department to ensure the vehicles were well maintained and put to good use to
ensure occupational health and safety. 

The DFI’s mission is to promote measures that
would safeguard the health and safety of persons employed in the premises of
companies, which fall within the purview of the Factories, Offices and Shops
Act, 1970 (Act 328).

As part of their activities, the department is
tasked with the responsibility of approving building plans for premises, which
are intended to be used as factories, to ensure that the provisions for health
and safety of persons, intended to be employed, are adequate and satisfactory,
having regard to the requirements of the Factories, Offices and Shops Act and
its related regulations.

GNA

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