Ghana, Germany in talks on labour deal to create jobs for thousands of youth

Ghana, Germany in talks on labour deal to create jobs for thousands of youth

By: Nii Ammui Fio | 2 mins read

Ghana and Germany are working towards finalising a labour mobility agreement aimed at creating employment opportunities for thousands of young Ghanaians, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.

According to the minister, the proposed agreement—currently under negotiation—will provide "safe, rewarding and dignified employment" for Ghanaian youth abroad. Mr Ablakwa made this known in a Facebook post following high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin.

"We expect actual implementation soon," he stated, expressing the government's confidence in "meaningful and impactful diplomacy" to tackle the country’s growing unemployment challenge.

In Berlin, Mr Ablakwa met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Mr Joachim Stamp—the Federal Government’s Special Representative for Migration Agreements—and senior officials of the German Interior Ministry. Their discussions centred on strengthening cooperation through a special migration and employment pact.

Back home, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, earlier hinted at similar efforts being coordinated between his ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the international employment of Ghanaian professionals and skilled workers.

"Beyond the domestic set, what we can do to tackle unemployment is to look at how we can export Ghanaian labour to places that require our labour force," Dr Pelpuo said in April during an interview on Joy FM.

He added, "What I am working on is to get the foreign minister to sign bilateral relations with all the countries needing Ghanaian labour, and I will sign agreements with companies that want to export the labour."

The planned agreement with Germany mirrors an already successful bilateral deal between Germany and Kenya. That partnership saw the two nations form a joint technical committee, develop a roadmap for negotiations, and eventually sign a comprehensive labour mobility agreement in September 2024. The Kenya-Germany deal includes provisions for skills development, social protection, and rights for Kenyan migrant workers.

Ghana is hoping to follow a similar path to secure decent foreign jobs for its citizens, particularly in light of a Fitch projection that puts the country’s unemployment rate at an average of 4.0% in 2025.

Meanwhile, discussions are also underway between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore similar labour export partnerships. Mr Ablakwa hinted that "massive job openings in the UAE will soon be announced" once both countries conclude talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

In addition to employment opportunities, the minister noted that UAE companies would soon arrive in Ghana to invest in key sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, education, health, aviation, and defense—part of growing economic cooperation between the two nations.

Mr Ablakwa made these remarks after honouring a special two-day invitation from the UAE government, underscoring the potential for international partnerships to address Ghana’s unemployment and stimulate economic growth.