Bawumia calls for laws to protect workers from AI job losses
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for legislation to protect workers from potential job losses arising from the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He said although AI offered opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and service delivery, its rapid advancement could threaten employment and workers’ income security.
Dr Bawumia made the call during an engagement with the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which focused on labour issues, economic transformation and the future of work.
He described AI as a “frightening prospect” for workers, noting that machines and software applications were increasingly capable of performing tasks traditionally undertaken by humans.
The former Vice-President said businesses worldwide were adopting automation to reduce operational costs and improve productivity, making several occupations vulnerable to technological disruption.
He said Ghana needed to take proactive measures to address the implications of AI on the labour market rather than remain a passive observer as the technology transformed industries.
Dr Bawumia stressed the need for a national strategy to ensure that the adoption of AI promoted economic growth without undermining workers’ livelihoods.
“Artificial Intelligence should be a tool to complement human labour and not a substitute for it,” he said.
Dr Bawumia proposed collaboration among the Government, organised labour, employers and technology experts to develop laws and regulations that would protect workers while encouraging innovation.
The proposed framework, he said, should provide for retraining, reskilling and continuous education to equip workers with the skills needed to remain relevant in an increasingly digital economy.
Dr Bawumia also encouraged labour unions to participate actively in national discussions on AI to ensure that workers had a voice in decisions affecting their employment and future.
He expressed concern that Africa’s youthful population could face increasing unemployment if technological advancement outpaced investment in human capital development.
Dr Bawumia said deliberate policies were needed to ensure that the benefits of AI were widely shared and did not deepen existing social and economic inequalities.
He expressed confidence that appropriate policies and legal safeguards would enable Ghana to harness the benefits of AI while protecting employment and preserving the dignity of work.
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