The Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, says the Ghana Labour Export Programme—one of President John Dramani Mahama’s flagship interventions—will significantly boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings, reduce unemployment, and improve the skills base of Ghana’s workforce.
Addressing the media on the state of the programme on Monday, November 17, 2025, the Minister dismissed concerns about “brain drain,” arguing instead that Ghana stands to benefit from what he described as “brain gain.”
He cited global trends in countries such as the Philippines, India, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, which earn billions of dollars annually from labour export.
With the right structures and investment in place, he said, Ghana could generate between $10 billion and $20 billion annually from the initiative.
He explained that the programme is timely, given that advanced economies—including Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Germany—are grappling with ageing populations and acute labour shortages.
Ghana’s youthful and increasingly tech-savvy population, he noted, positions the country well to supply both skilled and unskilled labour to meet global demand.
“Normally in Ghana, we talk about cocoa and gold, but we need to ask how much each of these brings into the country. The potentials are huge, and therefore, it’s an area we have to look at. Labour export is not brain drain; it is brain gain. It will solve unemployment, bring in the needed forex, and enhance the skills of our people,” he said.
The Minister added that Ghana is already pursuing opportunities in the Caribbean and other African countries, particularly for nurses, teachers, IT professionals, and other specialised workers.