Ghana has made significant progress in negotiations with the United Kingdom to secure an exemption from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for Ghanaian students and professionals, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.

In a post shared via X on October 21, 2026, Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this after meeting the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Edward Miliband, where they discussed bilateral relations, trade, investment and cooperation on international issues.

He said the meeting provided an opportunity for both countries to review their relationship, noting that they “welcomed the impressive upward trajectory in Ghana-UK trade and investments.”

On the proposed IELTS exemption, Ablakwa said: “I am delighted to report that we have made significant progress in the negotiations I initiated for Ghanaians to be exempted from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examinations for students and professionals.”

He added that Ghana had met an important requirement for the proposal to receive favourable consideration from the UK.

“Thus far, we have demonstrated that Ghana meets the minimum statistical threshold in English proficiency for favourable consideration by our UK friends. Both sides remain highly optimistic,” he stated.

The minister said the meeting also covered President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for reparatory justice and the prospects for further dialogue following a Ghana-led United Nations resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement of Africans the gravest crime against humanity.

“Ed and I also had illuminating discussions on understanding President Mahama’s vision on reparatory justice, and the prospects for an honest broader dialogue following the landmark Ghana-led UN resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity,” he said.

Ablakwa added that the two officials discussed shared priorities ahead of 2027, when Ghana is expected to chair the African Union while the UK assumes the presidency of the G20.

They also reviewed preparations and common areas of focus for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for next month in Antigua and Barbuda.

Ablakwa thanked the UK Foreign Secretary for his hospitality and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening relations between the two countries.

“I thank the outstanding Foreign Secretary for his warm hospitality. We deeply cherish our longstanding Ghana 🇬🇭 UK 🇬🇧 relations,” he concluded.

This afternoon I was graciously hosted by the distinguished Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, His Excellency Edward Miliband.

I congratulated my great friend on his appointment and commended him for his inspiring leadership.

The meeting afforded us the opportunity to extensively review our excellent bilateral relations.

We welcomed the impressive upward trajectory in Ghana-UK trade and investments.

I am delighted to report that we have made significant progress in the negotiations I initiated for Ghanaians to be exempted from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examinations for students and professionals.

Thus far, we have demonstrated that Ghana meets the minimum statistical threshold in English proficiency for favourable consideration by our UK friends. Both sides remain highly optimistic.

Ed and I also had illuminating discussions on understanding President Mahama’s vision on reparatory justice, and the prospects for an honest broader dialogue following the landmark Ghana-led UN resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity.

On the multilateral front, we explored our shared priorities having regard for the fact that in 2027 Ghana will Chair the African Union as the UK assumes the G20 Presidency in the same year.

We additionally assessed preparations and common areas of focus for next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.

I thank the outstanding Foreign Secretary for his warm hospitality.

We deeply cherish our longstanding Ghana 🇬🇭 UK 🇬🇧 relations.

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) October 21, 2026