The first batch of 121 beneficiaries under the President Mahama–led administration’s Ghana Labour Export Programme has departed Ghana for Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean to provide services in midwifery, mental health, and general healthcare.

Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh highlighted the government’s efforts to address the backlog of trained health professionals in the country.

He explained the rationale for the programme, saying:

"We inherited a backlog of more than 80,000 health professionals who have completed the various degrees and yet are at home and do not have jobs. So as part of government intervention to create jobs for especially the health professionals, we are exploring avenues where countries have requested our health professionals to work with them."

He then highlighted Antigua as the first beneficiary country while revealing plans to extend the programme to other Caribbean nations:

"Today is about Antigua; we are working on Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. And so we'll be doing that in batches."

Mr Mintah-Akandoh also reminded the beneficiaries of their responsibilities abroad:

"And so today we are here to say goodbye to you, but we'll be following your progress with keen interest, and as you are going, you must be reminded of the fact that you are carrying the flag of Ghana, and therefore we wish that you go and work with diligence and professionalism."

Turning to the health professionals still at home, he addressed concerns about the availability of medical personnel in Ghana:

"Those of you who are at home watching us, I'm very hopeful that it will get to your turn. Usually, the debate has been that we do not have health workers in our various health facilities, but we are exporting, I mean, health workers. That is not it. The availability of health professionals in this country is not a problem. As I have already indicated, we have excess. We have inherited about 80,000 health professionals, but as you all know, we have a country to govern, and at every point in time, our budget can absorb a certain proportion of them."

He added that while some health professionals are being absorbed into local facilities, the government is also exploring opportunities abroad:

"And so as the government is looking at absorbing some internally, in-country, in our various health facilities, we are also exploring other avenues outside the country."