Source: Africa Publicity
Some 130 Ghanaian professionals departed Ghana on Monday, January 26, 2026 headed to Antigua under a labour exchange programme.
They are to undertake a three-year contract in Antigua.
According to the Ghanaian government, the labour exchange programme is part of its broader strategy to address unemployment.
The government says the programme also seeks to strengthen Ghana’s presence in the international health sector.
Chief of Justice, Julius Debrah, led the departure ceremony for the 130 health workers at the Kotoka International Airport.
Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the labour exchange programme as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing the backlog of over 80,000 unemployed health professionals across Ghana.
He says the programme also to seeks to position Ghana as a key exporter of skilled medical personnel.
He stated “The Ghana Labour Exchange Programme is an initiative of the President to create jobs for citizens. Today, it is the turn of health workers. We inherited a backlog of more than 80,000 health professionals who have completed various degrees but are without employment.”
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According to him, “As part of efforts to create jobs, the government is exploring avenues where countries have requested that our health professionals work with them. Today, it is Antigua. We are also working on similar arrangements with Trinidad, Barbados, and Jamaica. These deployments will be done in batches.”
Ghana’s Minister in charge of Special Initiatives, Emmanuel Agyekum, assured the public that the selection process was rigorous and transparent. He explained that applicants were required to have between three and five years of work experience and underwent a thorough two-stage interview process, including local assessments and interviews conducted by officials from Antigua.
“They have signed three-year contracts. Once the contract ends, they may apply for an extension. Otherwise, they are expected to return to Ghana at the completion of their assignment,” according to him.
