Home - Antigua and Barbuda seeks more Ghanaian nurses after first 120 impress

Antigua and Barbuda has requested additional Ghanaian health workers following what it describes as the impressive performance of the first batch of 120 nurses recruited from Ghana to work in the Caribbean country.

The request was made during a bilateral meeting between Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and his Antiguan counterpart, Everly Paul Chet Greene, on the sidelines of the just-ended Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.

According to Ablakwa, discussions with the host country's Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed that the initial group of 120 Ghanaian nurses had made a positive impact on the country's healthcare delivery, prompting authorities to seek more health professionals from Ghana.

The development points to growing opportunities for Ghanaian health workers seeking employment abroad, while reinforcing the country's position as a source of skilled healthcare professionals for international labour markets.

Beyond healthcare cooperation, the two countries are also looking to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations following the introduction of a visa waiver agreement covering all categories of Ghanaian and Antiguan passport holders.

The arrangement is expected to make travel between the two countries easier and encourage closer cooperation in trade, tourism and people-to-people relations.

Ablakwa also used the engagement to outline Ghana's broader diplomatic ambitions, particularly its efforts to strengthen partnerships with international allies ahead of the country's expected chairmanship of the African Union (AU) in 2027.

He said Ghana was working to build stronger international alliances to advance Africa's longstanding demand for reforms at the United Nations (UN), including permanent representation for the continent on the UN Security Council.

Africa currently has no permanent seat on the 15-member UN Security Council, despite being home to 54 member states of the United Nations.

Ghana's diplomatic engagements, according to the minister, form part of efforts to build international support for a more representative global governance system that gives Africa a permanent voice in decisions affecting international peace and security.

EA