Accra, Ghana — The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, led a delegation from the Ministry on a working visit to Carmensita Ghana Ltd. to engage management on opportunities for the company and other businesses under the Fakih Family to participate in and support the 24-hour economy initiative.
The delegation was received by the President and Founder of Carmensita Ghana Ltd., Mr. Mohamad Fakih, the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Najib Fakih and the General Manager, Mr Samer El Ressas. The engagement focused on how businesses within the Fakih Family can expand their operations, increase productivity and contribute to sustainable employment creation, particularly for Ghana’s growing youth population.
Dr. Pelpuo has emphasised that the 24-hour economy is not simply about extending working hours, but about using Ghana’s workforce more effectively to increase production, improve productivity and create meaningful employment opportunities. He has also stressed the important role of the private sector in absorbing more workers as the country seeks to shift employment creation beyond the public sector.
This vision was reflected in the discussions with Carmensita, where management outlined several areas in which the group could potentially support the initiative.
Speaking during the engagement, Mr. Mohamad Fakih explained that the group has already begun operationalising extended working hours within its hospitality businesses. He noted that Babel Restaurant and Le Beirut Restaurant are currently being operationalised towards 24-hour operations, demonstrating the group’s readiness to explore business models that can increase economic activity while creating additional employment opportunities.
Mr. Fakih further highlighted the potential application of the initiative within Lamasat Furniture, the group’s furniture manufacturing company, where extended production hours could increase manufacturing capacity and productivity while creating opportunities for additional workers.
The Minister’s visit also included a tour of the Carmensita Ghana Ltd. warehouse, where Dr. Pelpuo and the delegation gained first-hand insight into the company’s operations, storage facilities and distribution activities. The tour provided an opportunity for the Ministry to better understand the scale of Carmensita’s operations and its contribution to Ghana’s food distribution sector.
The warehouse tour was followed by a high-level discussion on job creation, business expansion, youth employment, productivity and private-sector participation in Ghana’s economic development.
Speaking on Carmensita’s growth plans, Dr. Najib Fakih highlighted the company’s ambition to expand its operations beyond its current presence in 10 regions of Ghana, with plans to reach the remaining regions of the country.
According to Dr. Najib, this expansion will not only increase access to Carmensita’s products nationwide but also has the potential to create new employment opportunities across sales, logistics, distribution, warehousing, retail, administration and other areas of the business.
The expansion aligns closely with the Government’s broader objective of encouraging private-sector businesses to become stronger drivers of employment creation. Dr. Pelpuo has previously stated that the private sector must play a greater role in absorbing workers for the 24-hour economy to achieve its intended impact.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of ensuring that any move towards extended operations is accompanied by decent working conditions, worker safety, appropriate remuneration and effective labour management. The Ministry has emphasised that productivity and economic expansion must go hand in hand with the protection and welfare of workers.
For Carmensita Ghana Ltd. and the wider Fakih Family, the engagement represents an opportunity to align the group’s business expansion plans with national economic priorities.
With operations spanning food distribution, hospitality, furniture manufacturing, construction and other business activities, the Fakih Family sees opportunities to contribute to Ghana’s economic growth through increased production, expanded operations and the creation of sustainable jobs.
The working visit by Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo and the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment therefore marks an important step in strengthening dialogue between government and the private sector on the practical implementation of the 24-hour economy.
Carmensita Ghana Ltd. remains committed to exploring opportunities that will allow the company to expand its national footprint, increase productivity and contribute to job creation and economic development across Ghana.
