By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana is set to benefit from expanded labour diplomacy with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following high-level discussions in Accra aimed at establishing a structured framework for labour migration.
The Chairman of Al Marzooqi Group, His Excellency Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al Marzooqi, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Hassan Rashid Pelpuo (MP), to highlight the UAE’s interest in recruiting Ghanaian youth to fill critical workforce gaps in the Gulf nation.
H.E. Al Marzooqi explained that the UAE, like many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, is experiencing demographic changes marked by an ageing population. This, he noted, has created sustained demand for young, dynamic and adaptable workers across multiple sectors.
“This naturally creates significant demand for youthful, dynamic and adaptable talent across various sectors, from technology and infrastructure to healthcare and services,” he stated. “Ghana, with its impressive youth bulge and highly energetic workforce, is perfectly positioned to meet this demand.”
Minister Dr Pelpuo welcomed the initiative, stressing the government’s readiness to provide the necessary support to ensure Ghanaian youth gain access to safe and decent work opportunities abroad.
“We are committed to this partnership, which offers a structured and safe pathway for our youthful workforce to access decent employment opportunities abroad,” the Minister said. “Ghana is dedicated to ensuring that our young people have access to safe, secure and decent work, whether here at home or abroad.”
The Minister also emphasised that worker welfare and ethical recruitment will remain at the heart of any agreement reached with the UAE, adding that both nations are working towards a bilateral framework that promotes mutual economic benefit while protecting labour rights.
The proposed labour corridor, officials say, is designed to align Ghana’s youthful demographic with the UAE’s strategic workforce needs, thereby reducing unemployment at home while contributing to the Gulf nation’s development agenda.
This latest diplomatic engagement forms part of the government’s broader strategy to leverage international partnerships to expand job opportunities, reduce underemployment and create new avenues for skills transfer and capacity building for Ghanaian youth.
