Ghana and Jamaica have signed a landmark bilateral agreement that will see about 400 Ghanaian nurses deployed to the Caribbean nation as part of efforts to strengthen Jamaica’s healthcare system and deepen cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement was among the major outcomes of the recent Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) meeting held in Accra, the first such engagement between Ghana and Jamaica in more than two decades.
Announcing the development on Sunday, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the nursing arrangement as a significant step in advancing bilateral relations while creating employment opportunities for Ghanaian healthcare professionals.
“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,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
He noted that the revival of the PJCC after a 21-year break represents a major milestone in relations between the two countries and commended the Jamaican delegation, led by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, for the fruitful discussions.
Beyond healthcare cooperation, Ghana and Jamaica signed additional agreements in the areas of defence and tourism. The two countries also agreed to conclude ongoing negotiations for the deployment of Ghanaian teachers to Jamaica by August this year.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the agreements reflect the growing international recognition of Ghanaian expertise and the increasing demand for the country’s skilled workforce across the globe.
“We must all be proud to see how Ghanaian professionals are in high demand all over the world,” he said.
The discussions also highlighted the enduring historical and cultural bonds between Ghana and Jamaica. Ghana expressed appreciation for Jamaica’s support for a Ghana-sponsored United Nations resolution recognising the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The Jamaican delegation, on its part, thanked Ghana for its humanitarian assistance following Hurricane Melisa, including the deployment of military personnel and relief supplies to affected communities.
In another indication of the strengthening partnership, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness invited President John Dramani Mahama to attend Jamaica’s National Day celebrations later this year as a special guest of honour.
Officials from both countries expressed confidence that the agreements reached under the PJCC framework would usher in a new era of cooperation, expand professional opportunities, and further strengthen the longstanding ties between the people of Ghana and Jamaica.
