Government to sign US, UK Deals to deploy Ghanaian Health Professionals abroad

The Government is set to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the United States and the United Kingdom in the coming months to facilitate the deployment of Ghanaian health professionals to work in both countries.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced the plans during the matriculation ceremony for 145 post-basic specialised nursing students at the Kumasi Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) and the ENT Nursing School in Kumasi under the Mahama Care initiative.

The newly admitted students are pursuing four specialised nursing programmes in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology and oncology. Of the total intake, 99 students are enrolled at the Kumasi NMTC, while 46 are undertaking training at the ENT Nursing School.

Mr. Akandoh said the proposed agreements with the US and UK will build on Ghana’s existing labour partnership with Jamaica, under which batches of Ghanaian health professionals have already been deployed.

According to him, the structured migration programme is designed to create opportunities for Ghanaian health workers while boosting the country’s economy through remittances from professionals working abroad.

He, however, assured that the government would implement safeguards to prevent shortages of critical healthcare personnel. He noted that highly specialised professionals in fields where Ghana faces severe shortages would not be permitted to leave under the programme.

The minister said the government is simultaneously expanding specialist training programmes to increase the country’s healthcare workforce and meet both domestic and international demand.

As part of broader reforms in the health sector, the Ministry of Health has introduced a competency-based nursing curriculum and is upgrading several institutions to offer post-basic specialist programmes. These include the Kumasi Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Korle-Bu Nursing and Midwifery Training College, the ENT Nursing School in Kumasi, Tamale Nursing and Midwifery Training College, and the Critical Care and Perioperative School at Korle-Bu.

Mr. Akandoh revealed that following successful pilot specialist training programmes at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale, the ministry has enrolled 500 nurses in specialised training this year. The government aims to increase the annual intake to at least 1,000 trainees over the next three years as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system.

Prince Antwi

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