Ghana News
Ghana Pushes for IELTS Exemption for its Students, Professionals
Ghana has formally renewed calls for an exemption from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirement for its students and professionals seeking opportunities in the United Kingdom.
Ghana is arguing that English has long been Ghana’s official medium of instruction.
The appeal was made by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during high-level bilateral talks with the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Christian Rogg, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Mr. Ablakwa said discussions focused on strengthening Ghana–UK relations and aligning priority areas for 2026 in line with the vision of President John Dramani Mahama.
He disclosed that both countries have begun processes to elevate their relationship into a Strategic Partnership, with expanded cooperation expected in key sectors including security, trade, job creation, health, education, governance, and constitutional review.
Central to Ghana’s position, however, was a renewed push to ease barriers facing Ghanaian students and professionals—particularly in the health sector—who seek to work or study in the UK.
The foreign minister specifically called for a government-to-government framework to protect Ghanaian health practitioners in the UK and improve their working conditions, while also urging British authorities to reconsider the IELTS requirement and its associated costs.
Mr. Ablakwa argued that requiring Ghanaians to prove English proficiency through standardized testing is unnecessary, given Ghana’s long-standing use of English across its educational system.
The issue has gained prominence amid rising costs of international migration and professional certification, with many Ghanaian applicants viewing IELTS fees as an additional financial hurdle rather than a measure of actual competence.
The meeting underscored what Mr. Ablakwa described as “increasingly buoyant” relations between Accra and London, with both sides exploring practical ways to deepen collaboration and reduce friction in people-to-people exchanges.
While no immediate policy changes were announced, the formal raising of the IELTS exemption request signals Ghana’s intent to push the matter onto the bilateral agenda as talks toward a strategic partnership continue.
The minister ended his post on a lighter note, joking that he would host the British envoy in his hometown of North Tongu with a traditional meal should Ghana’s Black Stars defeat England at a future World Cup—an anecdote that reflected the cordial tone of the engagement.
Accra, Ghana – March 4, 2026 – Ghana and the Caribbean twin-island nation of St Kitts and Nevis have signed a landmark Bilateral Labour Agreement that will facilitate the recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals to help address critical workforce shortages in St Kitts and Nevis.
The agreement was signed on March 4 at Jubilee House in Accra by President John Dramani Mahama and Prime Minister Dr Terrance Michael Drew during the latter’s four-day State Visit to Ghana.
Under the deal, Ghana will supply skilled health workers—primarily nurses and physicians—through structured, mutually beneficial recruitment channels.
President Mahama described the arrangement as a practical step to support friendly nations while creating meaningful opportunities for Ghanaian professionals seeking international experience and better remuneration.
The agreement builds on longstanding diplomatic ties and reflects growing South-South cooperation in human capital mobility.
Discussions are also underway to potentially expand the framework to include teachers, technical experts, and other skilled categories in the future.
The signing ceremony comes as Ghana continues to strengthen partnerships across the Global South, positioning itself as a reliable source of trained professionals while addressing labour market needs in partner countries.
Thursday, March 5, 2026. Stay informed with today’s front pages of Ghanaian newspapers, all in one place.
Accra, Ghana – March 4, 2026 – Ghana’s former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife Samira Bawumia have been safely evacuated from Qatar as the US–Israel–Iran conflict enters its most dangerous phase, diplomatic sources confirmed.
According to reporting by Joy News, relocation was coordinated by Ghanaian embassies in the region under direct instructions from Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Officials described the operation as swift, discreet, and well-coordinated with host authorities, though specific details—including the destination country—remain undisclosed for security reasons.
The evacuation comes after Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted US military bases and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf, including Qatar, in retaliation for US–Israeli airstrikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict has triggered widespread airspace closures, mass flight cancellations, and heightened risks for civilians and expatriates.
Ghana’s Foreign Ministry has activated emergency preparedness plans across the Middle East, with partial evacuation of non-essential embassy staff from Tehran already underway and full contingency measures in place for nationals in Iran, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and other affected countries.
The ministry continues to urge Ghanaians in the region to shelter in place, register with missions, avoid unnecessary movement, and monitor official channels.
The crisis threatens Ghana’s large diaspora in the Gulf—many of whom work in construction, hospitality, domestic services, and other sectors—whose remittances remain a vital source of foreign exchange.
It also risks driving up global oil and LNG prices, potentially reversing Ghana’s recent single-digit inflation gains and increasing fuel, transport, and living costs at home.
Ghana and St Kitts and Nevis Sign Agreement to Deploy Ghanaian Nurses and Doctors
UK Suspends Student and Work Visas for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan Over Asylum Abuse Claims
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