Ghanaian Nurses Given Beautiful Welcome in Antigua and Barbuda: “Our Brothers and Sisters”
- About 120 Ghanaian nurses arrived in Antigua and Barbuda, a moment celebrated as a historic moment for healthcare
- The Caribbean country's Health Minister praised shared heritage and kinship during a heartfelt welcome ceremony
- The nurses underwent a three-week orientation before integrating into Antigua's healthcare system
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The first batch of Ghanaian nurses deployed to Antigua and Barbuda arrived safely with a warm welcome from the Caribbean country's government officials.
Antigua Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph welcomed the contingent of Ghanaian nurses, describing their arrival as a historic and deeply symbolic moment for the nation’s healthcare system.
Source: Facebook
Antigua News reported that 119 nurses arrived in the country on January 26.
A total of 119 nurses arrived on the island last week aboard a chartered flight.
Dressed in traditional African attire, Sir Molwyn was on hand to receive the nurses during a brief welcome ceremony at the airport.
“This is truly a delightful moment in the history of Antigua and Barbuda... This is perhaps the largest delegation to have crossed the Atlantic from Ghana on a single flight.”
Antigua's health officials estimate that the country requires approximately 400 nurses to operate its healthcare system effectively. At present, there are about 260 local nurses and 33 Cuban nurses in service.
An official welcome ceremony for the nurses who have been contracted for three years is scheduled for January 31.
GNA reported that a second batch of nurses left Ghana on January 26.
The deployment is part of the government’s Ghana Labour Exchange Programme, which places Ghanaian nurses in partner countries as part of bilateral cooperation in the health sector.
The nurses were seen off at Kotoka International Airport by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; and the Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum.
Gov't recruits nurses to work in Grenada
Late in 2025, the Health Ministry said it was looking for nurses to work in Grenada, in line with a bilateral agreement between the two countries.
The ministry said it was seeking experienced and qualified Registered Nurses across several specialities.
These specialities include Critical Care, Accident and Emergency, Public Health, and General Nursing.
Ghana has had similar arrangements with other countries in the Caribbean.
The Ministry of Health has in the past recruited Ghanaian nurses for Barbados.
There were three batches of nurses sent to Barbados as of 2024.
Some Ghanaian nurses also moved to the Caribbean after the Bahamas announced new recruitments in 2023.
The Bahamas Health and Wellness Minister said 18 speciality nurses would work in the Caribbean.
The Tribune reported at the time that the Bahamas had been dealing with a workforce shortage, leading to overworked nurses.
In 2024, the Ghana Human Development Report noted that 24% of nurses trained in Ghana work abroad.
Source: Facebook
It warned that Ghana’s health system could worsen if immediate steps are not taken to stem the exodus of doctors and nurses trained in Ghana.
The study indicated that the health sector is in a precarious state due to this layer of brain drain.
The International Council of Nurses told the BBC that Ghana's health system could pay a great price in the coming years if the situation persists.
Nurse-for-cash agreement between Ghana and UK
YEN.com.gh reported that Ghana planned to send registered nurses to the UK for cash.
The health minister told Parliament on December 5, 2022, that Ghana could make £1,000 for each nurse sent to the UK.
The minister said there were talks between Ghana and the UK to introduce a similar deal between Ghana and Barbados.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
