A landmark bilateral labour agreement between Ghana and the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has secured a robust package of improved employment benefits and legal protections for Ghanaian nursing professionals who relocate to work in the Caribbean country.
The historic deal was signed during the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, with Dr Geoffrey Hanley, Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, putting pen to paper on the agreement.
Under the terms of the new deal, every Ghanaian nurse accepting employment in Saint Kitts and Nevis will be legally entitled to boosted, competitive salaries, comprehensive health insurance coverage, dedicated rent allowance to offset living costs, and full end-of-service benefits, alongside all core fundamental labour rights. This agreement formalizes a structured labor mobility pathway that had already been activated in prior months, when Ghana opened official overseas recruitment for nurses seeking positions in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the first cohort of 47 nurses already departed for the Caribbean to take up their roles.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Ablakwa praised Ghanaian healthcare professionals for their consistent global recognition, noting that nations across the world increasingly seek out Ghanaian nurses for their exceptional skills, expertise, and professional dedication. He added that these global demand for Ghanaian medical professionals has brought significant pride to the West African nation on the international stage.
The agreement also underscores Ghana’s ongoing foreign policy priority of advancing people-centered, result-driven diplomacy that delivers tangible, positive outcomes for Ghanaian citizens, whether they work within the country or pursue opportunities across the globe.