Ghana’s Labour Export Programme received a major boost as Qatar signalled immediate interest in recruiting Ghanaian professionals across several priority sectors, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said after a meeting with senior Qatari officials.
Ablakwa, who shared details of the engagement on X, said he held “a great meeting” with Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, Undersecretary of Qatar’s Ministry of Labour, as both countries accelerate efforts to formalise a bilateral labour cooperation framework.
According to the minister, Qatar is ready to recruit Ghanaian workers in health, tourism, information technology, transport, and logistics sectors, where Doha continues to face growing demand for skilled labour.
Ghana and Qatar have already completed significant steps toward a formal agreement. “Qatar has already ratified our labour cooperation agreement with the Ghanaian Parliament expected to ratify in the next few weeks,” Ablakwa said.
He added that Ghana has also asked Qatar to establish its West African Qatar Visa Centre in Accra to support labour mobility and streamline the processing of workers headed for the Gulf state.
Ablakwa noted that Qatar has consistently praised Ghanaian workers for their reliability and performance. “Qatar has commended Ghanaian workers for their impressive work ethic and high standards as confirmed by many Qatari CEOs,” he said, describing the initiative as part of broader efforts under the Mahama administration to expand economic opportunities for young people locally and abroad. “The Mahama administration will keep creating opportunities for the Ghanaian youth both home and abroad through smart and pragmatic policies,” he said.
If finalised, the cooperation agreement would position Ghana as a key labour partner for Qatar in West Africa, potentially opening new employment pathways in some of the Gulf’s most sought-after sectors.
