Your Silence Enables Bad Laws – Haruna Iddrisu Tells HR Professionals

Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called on the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management (CIHRM) to take a more active role in Ghana’s legislative process, stressing that professional silence contributes to the passage of poor laws.

Speaking at the 2025 CIHRM Conference themed “Regulating HRM in Ghana: Standards, Ethics and Sustainability”, the minister urged the institute to critically engage with proposed legislation and assert its voice in shaping national policies.

“Parliament is passing legislation—where do you stand, and what role do you play?” Iddrisu questioned. “Do you review the bills, offer feedback, or demand representation on policymaking boards where HR expertise is relevant?”

He reminded attendees that Ghana’s Constitution, under Article 106, mandates the gazetting of all bills for public scrutiny—a window of opportunity he believes professional bodies like CIHRM are underutilizing.

“When you hold back and do not contribute, you only help us pass bad laws,” the minister stated bluntly, urging the HR community to be more vocal and influential in national discourse.

Haruna Iddrisu concluded by emphasizing that the role of HR professionals goes beyond the workplace and must extend into governance, policy formulation, and national development.