Ghana and Jamaica have signed a bilateral agreement that will facilitate the deployment of approximately 400 Ghanaian nurses to the Caribbean nation to support its healthcare system.
The agreement emerged as a key outcome of the recent Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) meeting between the two countries, which marked the resumption of formal bilateral engagements after a 21-year break.
Announcing the development on Sunday, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the arrangement would help address healthcare needs in Jamaica while creating employment opportunities for Ghanaian health 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 described the revival of the PJCC as a significant milestone in Ghana-Jamaica relations and praised the Jamaican delegation, led by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, for the successful discussions held in Accra.
Beyond healthcare, the two countries signed additional cooperation agreements in the areas of defence and tourism. They also agreed to conclude ongoing negotiations for the deployment of Ghanaian teachers to Jamaica by August 2026.
Mr. Ablakwa said the agreements reflected the increasing global demand for Ghanaian professionals and demonstrated the growing strength of relations between the two countries.
“We must all be proud to see how Ghanaian professionals are in high demand all over the world,” he said.
The PJCC discussions also highlighted the longstanding historical and cultural ties linking Ghana and Jamaica. Ghana expressed appreciation for Jamaica’s support for a Ghana-sponsored United Nations resolution that recognizes the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
Jamaica, in turn, commended Ghana for its humanitarian assistance following Hurricane Melisa, including the deployment of military personnel and relief supplies to support recovery efforts.
Further evidence of the strengthening partnership came with an invitation from Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness to President John Dramani Mahama to serve as guest of honour at Jamaica’s National Day celebrations later this year.
Officials from both countries expressed confidence that the agreements reached during the PJCC would usher in a new era of cooperation, strengthen people-to-people relations and create new opportunities for citizens of both nations.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
