Gov’t to deploy health professional to US and UK

The Government of Ghana is preparing to sign new bilateral agreements with the United States and the United Kingdom as part of an ambitious international programme to deploy Ghanaian health professionals abroad while strengthening the country’s healthcare system through skills exchange and professional development.

The planned agreements form part of a broader strategy by the Ministry of Health to establish formal labour mobility partnerships with more than 13 countries seeking qualified Ghanaian healthcare workers to address global shortages in the health sector.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh disclosed that government is actively negotiating memoranda of understanding (MoUs) that will regulate the recruitment, deployment, training and eventual return of Ghanaian health professionals under structured bilateral arrangements.

According to the Minister, the initiative is designed not only to create employment opportunities for qualified Ghanaian health workers but also to ensure that participants return home with enhanced skills and international experience to strengthen the healthcare delivery system.

Among the most advanced negotiations are discussions with the United Kingdom, where both governments are finalising a bilateral agreement similar to existing health workforce exchange programmes.

Under the proposed arrangement, Ghanaian nurses and other health professionals will be deployed to work in the UK for approximately three years, during which they will receive additional clinical training and professional exposure before returning to Ghana to contribute to the local health sector.

Government officials believe the programme will help address longstanding concerns over the delayed posting of newly trained health professionals while simultaneously creating legal and regulated pathways for international employment.

The Ministry is also in discussions with the United States on a similar framework to facilitate the exchange and deployment of healthcare workers.

Although negotiations with the U.S. continue, officials have indicated that both countries are working to establish mutually beneficial arrangements that protect the national interests while creating opportunities for healthcare professionals.

The latest negotiations build on the expanding international labour mobility programme, which has gained momentum over the past year.

Earlier this year, Ghana signed agreements with Grenada to deploy 250 health professionals, including nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians and pharmacists, over a two-year period.

Government has also implemented similar agreements with Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saudi Arabia, where Ghanaian healthcare workers have already commenced work under bilateral cooperation frameworks.

In one of the most recent deployments, 47 Ghanaian health professionals departed for Saint Kitts and Nevis to support that country’s healthcare delivery while gaining international experience.

The Ministry of Health maintains that these agreements are not intended to encourage permanent migration but rather to establish structured exchange programmes that benefit both Ghana and partner countries.

Officials argue that regulated labour export offers a practical solution to domestic employment challenges, particularly for newly qualified nurses and allied health professionals who often experience delays in securing postings after completing their training.

At the same time, many developed countries continue to experience acute shortages of healthcare workers due to ageing populations and increasing demand for medical services.

By negotiating government-to-government agreements, Ghana aims to ensure that the recruitment process remains transparent, protects workers’ rights and guarantees opportunities for returning professionals to reintegrate into the country’s health system.