130 Ghanaian Health Workers Leave for Antigua Under Labour Exchange Programme
130 health professionals have departed to Antiqua. Photo credit Office of the President.
Accra, Ghana- A total of 130 Ghanaian health professionals have departed for Antigua under the government’s Labour Exchange Programme aimed at reducing unemployment among trained medical workers and creating international job opportunities. Speaking to the media after the departure ceremony, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the programme as a strategic response to Ghana’s growing backlog of unemployed health professionals.
“This programme is a strategic intervention to reduce the backlog of over 80,000 unemployed health professionals while positioning Ghana as a key exporter of skilled medical personnel,” the Minister said.
He explained that the Labour Exchange Programme is part of broader government efforts under President John Dramani Mahama to create jobs for qualified but unemployed graduates, particularly in the health sector.
According to him, Ghana currently has more than 80,000 trained health professionals who have completed their education but remain without employment due to budgetary constraints.
The Minister said the government is working with countries that have formally requested Ghanaian health workers. Antigua is the first destination under the programme, with Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad expected to follow in subsequent batches. “Today is about Antigua. We are working on Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. And we’ll be doing this in batches,” he noted.
Mr. Akandoh urged the departing health workers to act as ambassadors of Ghana and demonstrate professionalism in their host country. “As you are going, you must remember that you are carrying the flag of Ghana. We wish that you go and work with diligence and professionalism,” he told them.
130 health professionals ready to depart Ghana for Antigua.
He also sought to address concerns that exporting health workers could worsen shortages in local health facilities. According to him, Ghana’s challenge is not the lack of trained personnel but the limited capacity of government budgets to absorb all graduates at once. “The availability of health professionals in this country is not the problem. Our budget can only absorb a certain proportion at a time. So while the government is employing some locally, we are also exploring opportunities outside the country,” he explained.
The Minister assured unemployed health workers still in Ghana that more opportunities would be created under the programme. “Those of you at home watching us, I’m very hopeful that it will get to your turn,” he said.
The Labour Exchange Programme is expected to continue in phases, providing employment for thousands of Ghanaian health professionals while strengthening international cooperation in healthcare services.
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