Antigua and Barbuda has expressed interest in recruiting more Ghanaian nurses after the first group of 120 health professionals sent to the Caribbean country reportedly made a positive impact on its healthcare system.
The request was communicated during a bilateral meeting between Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and his Antiguan counterpart, Everly Paul Chet Greene, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Antigua and Barbuda.
According to Ablakwa, discussions with Greene confirmed that the initial group of Ghanaian nurses had performed impressively, prompting the Caribbean nation to seek additional healthcare professionals from Ghana.
The development could create further employment opportunities for Ghanaian nurses seeking work abroad while strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the healthcare sector.
Beyond the request for more health workers, Ghana and Antigua and Barbuda are also taking steps to deepen their diplomatic and economic relations.
A key development is the introduction of a visa waiver agreement covering all categories of Ghanaian and Antiguan passport holders. The arrangement is expected to simplify travel between the two countries and encourage greater cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
During the meeting, Ablakwa also highlighted Ghana’s broader diplomatic priorities, particularly its efforts to build stronger international partnerships ahead of the country’s expected chairmanship of the African Union (AU) in 2027.
He said Ghana was seeking support from international partners for Africa’s longstanding demand for reforms at the United Nations, including permanent representation on the UN Security Council.
Africa, which has 54 member states in the United Nations, currently has no permanent seat on the 15-member Security Council.
Ghana’s diplomatic engagements are therefore part of efforts to secure wider international backing for changes to global governance structures, to give the continent a permanent voice in decisions on international peace and security.
The latest discussions with Antigua and Barbuda reflect the growing areas of cooperation between the two countries, spanning healthcare recruitment, easier travel and diplomatic engagement.
