Accra: Ghana has dispatched 121 nurses and allied healthcare professionals to Antigua under the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme (GLEP), a government initiative aimed at reducing unemployment and boosting foreign exchange earnings.
According to Ghana News Agency, the GLEP was launched in 2025 to facilitate legal, structured, and ethical international job placements for Ghanaian citizens. The program targets both skilled and unskilled workers for deployment to countries experiencing labor shortages.
Mr. Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, along with Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Health Minister, and Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, the Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives, were present to see off the healthcare professionals at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. Mr. Akandoh emphasized that the GLEP was one of several initiatives by President John Dramani Mahama to create employment opportunities for Ghanaians.
Mr. Akandoh acknowledged that the Mahama Administration inherited a backlog of over 80,000 health professionals who had completed their education but were unemployed. He stated that the government was actively seeking international opportunities for these professionals, with Antigua being the first step, and similar arrangements being explored with Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad.
The Health Minister assured that the government would closely monitor the progress of the nurses in Antigua, reminding them of their roles as ambassadors of Ghana. He addressed concerns about exporting health workers despite domestic shortages, noting that the availability of health professionals in Ghana is not the issue but managing budgetary constraints is.
Mr. Agyekum highlighted that the GLEP is open to all skilled Ghanaians willing to participate, offering a path to employment for those ready to seize the opportunity.