Ghana and Serbia are preparing to sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labour mobility, which will enable Ghanaian workers to benefit from Serbia’s 100,000 work permit programme this year.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced bilateral talks with his Serbian counterpart, Marko Đurić, during the latter’s three-day working visit to Ghana.

Mr Ablakwa affirmed that the agreement aims to bolster people-to-people exchanges while unlocking economic opportunities for Ghanaian youth across multiple sectors. He noted that Ghana would become the second African nation, after Egypt, to benefit from Serbia’s labour mobility framework, and expressed keen interest in ensuring full participation of Ghanaian workers.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also highlighted efforts to strengthen bilateral ties through strategic partnerships in key areas, including lithium exploration, artificial intelligence, maritime security, and defence cooperation.

He revealed that Serbia, which holds 11 per cent of the world’s lithium reserves, had agreed to share technical expertise with Ghana to support exploration activities.

In the field of technology, both nations committed to deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence. Serbia currently chairs the Global AI Initiative, and Mr Ablakwa noted that this engagement aligns with Ghana’s One Million Coders Programme and its $1 billion Innovation Hub initiative.

On defence, he disclosed plans to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to respond to threats from the Sahel region through enhanced cooperation with Serbia.

He also announced a new academic exchange initiative, with Serbia offering scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian students, and Ghana reciprocating by opening pathways for Serbian students to study African Sociology and African Studies at the University of Ghana.

Mr Ablakwa praised Serbia’s contribution to Ghana’s maritime sector through its collaboration with the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Vlatacom Research and Development Institute. This partnership is currently upgrading Ghana’s Vessel Traffic Management and Information System, including the expansion of Over-the-Horizon Surveillance Technology to boost coastal security.

Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić lauded the Ghanaian government’s 24-hour economy policy, describing it as a visionary strategy that creates fertile ground for deeper economic and commercial engagement between the two nations.

He reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to strengthening ties in agriculture, defence, and sports, and noted plans to engage with relevant sector ministers during his visit.

Mr Đurić also announced the award of 51 scholarships to Ghanaian students studying in Serbia, with an additional 30 to be granted this year, underscoring his government’s dedication to educational and cultural exchange.

He described Ghana as a key regional partner, with whom Serbia seeks to build enduring, forward-looking cooperation.