Ghana's 2026 May Day celebration, observed at Jackson Park in Koforidua, brought together diverse groups of workers, government officials, and labour leaders under the theme "Pivoting to Growth, Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods Beyond Macroeconomic Stability." The event featured a vibrant march past by various labour unions, solidarity messages, and key addresses outlining the state of workers' conditions and national development strategies.

President John Dramani Mahama used the occasion to urge Organised Labour, particularly the Trades Union Congress (TUC), to proactively safeguard State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). He warned that mismanagement of SOEs disproportionately affects workers and called for accountability from management and governing boards. The President emphasized that Ghana's economic growth must be built on strong human capital and efficiently managed public institutions, stating, "A Reset Ghana means a healthy Ghana." He highlighted government efforts to revive struggling SOEs, noting that institutions like the Tema Oil Refinery have resumed operations, while the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and the National Investment Bank (NIB) have been recapitalized. The Tema Shipyard is also reportedly stabilizing, with other state enterprises operating more efficiently. These interventions, he explained, are part of a broader strategy to restore confidence in public institutions, create jobs, and foster economic growth.

However, a strong sentiment across various labour groups was that macroeconomic stability, while acknowledged, has not yet translated into tangible improvements in the living conditions of Ghanaian workers. Bernard Owusu, Chairman of the TUC Ghana, stressed that stability alone is insufficient without real economic impact, calling for the next phase of development to prioritize growth, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods. He also warned against the detrimental impact of weaknesses in critical sectors like energy and agriculture, which can lead to industrial slowdowns, job losses, and family hardship. Furthermore, Mr. Owusu issued a grave warning about illegal mining, or galamsey, calling for urgent and decisive action to end it. He stated that the environmental destruction, particularly the pollution of water bodies, threatens industries, agriculture, investments, and jobs, underscoring the TUC's "uncompromised" stance against it.

Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the TUC, specifically highlighted Ghana's worsening unemployment situation, which he described as nearing a "crisis level." He noted that despite decades of economic growth, job creation has not kept pace with the increasing number of educated young people entering the labour market, leaving many graduates unemployed or in jobs unsuited to their qualifications. Ansah also raised concerns about the quality of existing jobs, citing low wages, poor working conditions, limited social protection (including lack of pension coverage), and the alarming trend of converting permanent jobs into fixed-term contracts with reduced benefits. He cautioned that large-scale youth unemployment could become a destabilizing force and called for collaborative efforts from government, employers, and social partners to address these structural challenges.

Echoing these concerns, Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), called for macroeconomic gains to translate into a better standard of living, noting that many Ghanaians continue to struggle with the high cost of living, including rent, utilities, transport, and food. He urged a critical review of Ghana's economic systems, which he argued have failed to deliver prosperity despite workers' hard work. Ayawine also criticized employers engaging in unfair labour practices such as outsourcing and casualisation, demanding an end to such exploitation where precarious workers perform the same duties as permanent staff under less favourable conditions.

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) also made a strong plea for urgent reforms in the education sector. They argued that macroeconomic stability holds little meaning if teachers continue to face poor conditions and delayed employment. NAGRAT paid tribute to teachers for their resilience amidst challenges like overcrowded classrooms, makeshift learning environments, and delays in the release of essential school funds. The association highlighted a significant recruitment backlog, with approximately 22,000 trained teachers from the 2023 Colleges of Education batch awaiting financial clearance and around 2,800 from the 2022 batch unposted due to a claimed lack of vacancies. NAGRAT described this as a "self-inflicted unemployment crisis" and demanded immediate financial clearance and full posting. They also advocated for a "one-out, one-in" replacement policy to address the annual loss of over 10,000 teachers and called for fast-tracking licensing processes. Funding shortfalls, NAGRAT warned, continue to threaten the sustainability of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, with school heads sometimes resorting to personal funds to run institutions. The association demanded immediate release of outstanding grants, payment of suppliers, and a review of the Free SHS policy for long-term sustainability. Additionally, NAGRAT called for improved salaries, enhanced pension contributions, better housing and healthcare access, and protection from abuse, asserting that "A job that cannot pay rent is not the dignity that May Day stands for" and "A teacher cannot eat stability."

In the health sector, the Women’s Committee of the Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) in the Volta and Oti regions appealed to the government to address longstanding disparities affecting casual workers. Mabel Duvor, the Committee’s Chairperson, noted that many casual staff—including orderlies, records staff, laundry workers, accounts officers, security personnel, drivers, and administrative staff—have served for over a decade without being placed on the government payroll, some earning as little as GH¢700 a month. She urged the regularisation of their employment status to ensure equitable remuneration, job security, and improved morale. Duvor also raised concerns about staffing gaps created by the retirement of paramedical personnel without replacements, which affects service delivery and places pressure on existing staff. The HSWU also marked May Day with an outreach activity at the New Horizon School for the Blind in Ho, donating food items as a symbol of care and solidarity.

The Minority caucus on Parliament’s Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions Committee echoed the widespread discontent, accusing the government of presiding over worsening hardship for Ghanaian workers. Mavis Nkansah-Boadu, the Ranking Member, stated that workers are "confronted with worsening hardship" despite their resilience. The caucus pointed to declining and uncompetitive producer prices for cocoa farmers, growing concerns about mass dismissals and job insecurity across sectors, and prolonged delays in salary payments and postings for teachers, alongside health professionals having to protest for their due payments. The Minority condemned the "continued unfair treatment" of Ghanaian workers and urged immediate action to protect jobs, ensure fair pay, address wage arrears, and restore confidence, advocating for unity among labour groups to defend workers' rights.

Amidst these calls for reform and improved conditions, the Human Resource Service Providers Association of Ghana (GHRASP) celebrated the dedication of Ghanaian workers as the "true drivers of our nation’s progress." GHRASP emphasized the critical role of HR service providers in shaping people-centred and future-ready workplaces. They urged employers to prioritize fair labour practices, employee well-being, and continuous development, while also encouraging employees to embrace lifelong learning. GHRASP called for stronger collaboration among policymakers and stakeholders to advance decent work, job creation, and skills development, reaffirming its commitment to workplace excellence.