Antigua and Barbuda has requested additional Ghanaian nurses following the positive contribution of the first batch of 120 health professionals deployed from Ghana to strengthen its healthcare system. Editorial Ethics & Independence
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed the development after a bilateral meeting with his Antiguan counterpart, Everly Paul Chet Greene, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the Caribbean nation has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Ghanaian nurses and wants more healthcare professionals from Ghana to support its medical workforce.
In a statement following the meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Foreign Affairs Minister said Antigua and Barbuda had specifically acknowledged the positive impact of the initial deployment.
“The first group of 120 nurses from Ghana is making an impressive impact. Antigua has therefore requested more health workers,” he disclosed.
The request represents an important development in Ghana’s growing international healthcare cooperation and highlights the increasing demand for trained Ghanaian medical professionals beyond the African continent.
The first group of Ghanaian nurses travelled to Antigua and Barbuda in January 2026 under the government’s Ghana Labour Exchange Programme, an initiative designed to create employment opportunities for skilled Ghanaians while addressing workforce shortages in partner countries. Corrections Policy
The programme was established to provide qualified but unemployed health professionals with opportunities to work abroad under structured bilateral arrangements.
The deployment also forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to address the backlog of trained healthcare workers awaiting employment within the country.
At the time of the initial deployment, the government explained that the initiative would allow Ghanaian professionals to gain international experience, improve their financial circumstances and contribute to healthcare delivery in countries experiencing staffing difficulties.
The Presidency announced on January 27, 2026, that 121 nurses, midwives and other allied healthcare professionals had been deployed to Antigua under the programme.
The three-year contracts were designed to provide the health professionals with structured employment opportunities while strengthening cooperation between the two Commonwealth countries.
Antigua and Barbuda had previously acknowledged challenges in maintaining an adequate nursing workforce.
Its health authorities explained that the recruitment of Ghanaian nurses was intended to reduce pressure on existing medical personnel and improve patient care across public healthcare facilities.
The nurses were expected to serve in major healthcare institutions, including the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, as well as community health facilities and schools.
Their arrival was therefore considered an important intervention in addressing staffing shortages and improving the delivery of essential health services.
The latest request for additional Ghanaian nurses suggests that the partnership could expand beyond its initial deployment, although the number of additional professionals being requested, recruitment arrangements and expected deployment dates have not yet been disclosed.
The development also reflects Ghana’s growing role in international health workforce mobility, particularly as several Caribbean countries explore partnerships to address shortages of qualified medical personnel. Editorial Standards
Government has previously indicated interest in similar arrangements with other countries, including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.
Such partnerships could provide additional employment pathways for Ghanaian nurses and other healthcare professionals who meet international recruitment requirements.