130 health workers departs for Antigua under a labour exchange initiative
A group of approximately 130 Ghanaian health professionals departed the country on Monday, January 26, 2026, to undertake a three-year contract in Antigua, made possible by the government’s Labour Exchange Programme.
This programme is an integral part of the government’s multifaceted strategy to combat unemployment and strengthen Ghana’s position in the global healthcare sector.
The departure ceremony took place at Kotoka International Airport, led by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on behalf of the government.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, characterized the programme as a strategic intervention designed to address the substantial backlog of over 80,000 unemployed health professionals in Ghana, while showcasing the country’s capabilities as a key exporter of skilled medical personnel.
“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.
“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,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 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,” he said.
