The Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, has disclosed that several countries continue to request Ghanaian workers under the government’s labour exchange programme, citing a growing global shortage of skilled and semi-skilled labour.

Speaking at the send-off ceremony for nurses deployed to Antigua, Mr Agyekum said arrangements have already been concluded for Antigua, while about two hundred workers each are expected to be deployed to the Bahamas and Trinidad in subsequent phases. He added that recruitment has also been carried out for the Channel Islands, including Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

According to the minister, requests for Ghanaian workers are received almost daily from countries across the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, the Virgin Islands and parts of Europe. He noted that the demand is not limited to nurses, revealing that Lithuania has requested bus and coach drivers, while Japan and Germany have expressed interest in Ghanaian workers, subject to language training requirements.

Mr Agyekum explained that the qualifications for participation in the programme depend on the specific needs of requesting countries. These range from health professionals, construction workers and seafarers to hospitality staff, artisans and farm helpers. In some cases, no specialised skills are required, allowing unskilled workers to also benefit.

He disclosed that representatives from the Chambers of Commerce of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man recently visited Ghana to conduct interviews for hospitality and construction roles. Other countries, including Barbados, St Lucia and Australia, have also made requests for professionals such as IT specialists, teachers and agronomists.

On Australia, the minister clarified that while there is strong demand, applications are currently processed on an individual basis rather than through direct government placement. He said only six visas have so far been secured under that arrangement, but efforts are underway to expand opportunities.

Addressing concerns about the backlog of unemployed nurses, Mr Agyekum explained that the estimated 80,000 nurses are qualified professionals who have completed their training in Ghana but are yet to be absorbed into the public sector.

He encouraged interested applicants to stay informed through official announcements, noting that government has consistently publicised available opportunities across various media platforms.

Mr Agyekum added that the labour exchange programme is already yielding significant economic benefits, with remittances from deployed workers contributing substantially to foreign exchange inflows into the country.