Ghana and Jamaica have signed a bilateral agreement that will see at least 400 Ghanaian nurses deployed to the Caribbean nation to support its healthcare system, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed on Sunday.
According to him, the agreement would help strengthen health service delivery in Jamaica while creating opportunities for Ghanaian healthcare professionals.
The agreement was one of the key outcomes of the recent Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) meeting between the two countries, marking a major milestone in renewed relations after a 21-year hiatus.
He described the revival of the PJCC as one of the most significant achievements of the bilateral engagement and commended Jamaica’s delegation, led by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, for the successful discussions held in Accra.
He said, “A key outcome of the PJCC was the agreement we signed, which will ensure some 400 Ghanaian nurses are sent to Jamaica to boost health delivery in the friendly nation.”
Beyond the nursing agreement, the two countries also signed additional cooperation agreements covering defence and tourism and agreed to conclude ongoing negotiations for the deployment of Ghanaian teachers to Jamaica by August this year.
The minister said the agreements underscore the growing international demand for Ghanaian professionals and reflect the deepening ties between the two countries.
“We must all be proud to see how Ghanaian professionals are in high demand all over the world,” added the Foreign Minister.
The renewed partnership also highlighted the longstanding historical and cultural connections between Ghana and Jamaica. During the talks, Ghana acknowledged Jamaica’s support for the adoption of a Ghana-led United Nations resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The Jamaican delegation, in turn, expressed appreciation for Ghana’s humanitarian assistance following Hurricane Melisa, including the deployment of soldiers and relief supplies. Enditem
