Nurses and teachers from Ghana to work in Jamaica under new agreement

Ghanaian nurses and teachers will soon have the opportunity to take up employment in Jamaica, following a new agreement between the government of Ghana and Jamaica.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the arrangement after holding bilateral talks with Jamaican Foreign Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith during the recent Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) summit in Brussels.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Saturday [May 24, 2025], Mr Ablakwa described the meeting as “immensely successful.”

According to him, Jamaica has agreed to receive qualified nurses and teachers from Ghana under what he described as a “special bilateral partnership.”

“This new arrangement creates real opportunities for our professionals who are ready to work abroad,” Mr Ablakwa said.

The agreement forms part of broader efforts to deepen ties between Ghana and Jamaica. The two countries are expected to hold regular political consultations and engage in joint initiatives in trade, education, agriculture, tourism, culture and sports.

For many trained Ghanaian nurses and teachers who have struggled to find work locally due to limited public sector recruitment and budget restrictions, the agreement comes as welcome news, he indicated.

Over the years, Ghana has produced more nurses and teachers than the government can employ, leaving many qualified professionals jobless and seeking opportunities abroad.

The arrangement with Jamaica offers an alternative destination, with the potential for better pay and working conditions compared to what is currently available in Ghana.

Mr Ablakwa noted that the two countries were also exploring opportunities in trade and agribusiness. This could help Ghanaian farmers and exporters find new markets in the Caribbean. Tourism cooperation may also increase the flow of visitors and generate income for both countries.

Cultural and sports exchanges are expected to give Ghanaian creatives and athletes more platforms to share their work and build relationships with Caribbean counterparts.

Mr Ablakwa underscored the historical connection between Ghana and Jamaica, describing the partnership as a step towards deepening centuries-old ties.

“Ghana and Jamaica are set to expand the frontiers of our inseparable historical relations,” he said.

Jamaica, like much of the Caribbean, has deep links to West Africa through the transatlantic slave trade, with many Jamaicans tracing their ancestry to what is today Ghana.