The Government of Ghana has defended its decision to deploy 121 Ghanaian health professionals to Antigua and Barbuda under the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme, insisting that the move will not negatively affect healthcare delivery in the country.
Speaking at a send-off ceremony for the health workers, the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the programme is part of a broader job creation agenda being implemented by President John Dramani Mahama to address unemployment among trained professionals, particularly in the health sector.
“The Ghana Labour Exchange Programme is one of the interventions by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, to create more jobs for the good people of this country, and today is the turn of the health workers,” the Minister stated.
Hon. Akandoh disclosed that the government inherited a significant backlog of unemployed health professionals, stressing that the challenge is not a lack of trained personnel, but limited fiscal space to absorb all of them into the public sector at once.
“As you all know, we inherited a backlog of more than 80,000 health professionals who have completed various degrees and yet are at home and do not have jobs,” he said.
Addressing public concerns that exporting health workers could worsen staff shortages in local health facilities, the Health Minister rejected the assertion, explaining that Ghana currently has an excess supply of trained health professionals.
“The availability of health professionals in this country is not a problem. We have excess. We have inherited about 80,000 health professionals,” he emphasised.
He explained that while government continues to recruit health workers into local health facilities, budgetary constraints make it impossible to employ all qualified professionals immediately.
“We have a country to govern, and at every point in time, our budget can absorb a certain proportion of them. So as government is looking at absorbing some internally, we are also exploring other avenues outside the country,” Hon. Akandoh noted.
The Minister revealed that the Antigua deployment is only the first phase of a broader international engagement, with similar arrangements underway with other Caribbean nations.
“Today is about Antigua. We are working on Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad, and so we will be doing that in batches,” he disclosed.
He urged the departing health professionals to conduct themselves with diligence and professionalism, reminding them that they would be representing Ghana abroad.
“As you are going, you must be reminded of the fact that you are carrying the flag of Ghana. We expect you to work with diligence and professionalism,” he said.
Hon. Akandoh also gave assurance to unemployed health professionals still awaiting posting that the Labour Exchange Programme would continue to expand.
“Those of you who are at home watching us, I am very hopeful that it will get to your turn,” he added.
The Ghana Labour Exchange Programme is expected to ease pressure on domestic unemployment, strengthen bilateral relations, and provide Ghanaian professionals with international exposure while contributing to foreign exchange inflows.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
