Ghana, Barbados sign major port, health agreements

Ghana and Barbados have signed an international sister port agreement.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Copied to the Ghana News Agency said the two nations have also signed a health agreement for the recruitment of Ghanaian registered nurses for Barbados.

It said about 120 nurses are expected to be recruited following the desire of both countries to enhance cooperation in the field of health and wellness and to further promote the friendly relationship between their people.

It said the objective of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was to develop a framework for an effective and efficient voluntary recruitment of various categories of Ghanaian registered nurses to work in the health sector of Barbados.

It said the MoU shall take effect from the date it would be ratified by the Parliament of Ghana.

The statement said Ghana would take the necessary steps to advertise the details of the recruitment process for the nurses in accordance with set criteria.

It said it would ensure that the nurses met the regulatory requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana.

The statement said Ghana would ensure that the nurses had the level and scope of expertise as agreed on by the Parties, including a minimum of three years’ experience plus the corresponding specialty.

It said on their part, the Government of Barbados would ensure that the Ghanaian nurses were entitled to and enjoy the same rights and privileges as other nurses employed by the State.

It said the Caribbean nation was also expected to comply with international workforce policies as well as the International Council of Nurses code of ethics in respect of the nurses under this MoU.

It said the port agreement was between the Port of Bridgetown, Barbados and the Port of Tema, Ghana.

It said the agreement was signed at the Jubilee House on Friday, November 15, in Accra, by Madam.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and her counterpart from Barbados, Dr Jerome X Walcott.

The statement said the scope of the sister port agreement includes the facilitation of exchange of commercial, technological and operational information in seeking to improve the visibility, trade and relationship between the two ports for mutual benefit.

It said the Port of Bridgetown and the Port of Tema currently enjoy link by trade with two of the main shipping lines operating at the Port of Tema which are CGM and CMA.

It said between both ports, substantial trade opportunities exist including but not limited to Barbados exports of rum, artificial parts of the body and cement as well as expanded export opportunities for Ghana, with Barbados, due to its proximity, serving as a transhipment point for goods exported to Latin American countries.

It said the Board of Directors of the Port of Bridgetown formally established its sister port relationship with the Port of Tema.

"The agreement is also with the objectives to among others, promote both ports in a manner consistent with achieving the objective of facilitating the expansion of trade between, share information on best practices in the maritime industry and in line with the specific development goals of both ports, facilitate training and expertise exchanges to enhance the human capacity of both ports to fulfil and achieve their individual objectives," it stated.

"Furthermore, it is intended to facilitate engagements to promote awareness and market intelligence sharing among businesses, the private sector and other stakeholders."

It noted that the move was to raise awareness on opportunities to capitalise on the potential expanded trade and by positioning both ports as the sustainable and efficient gateway for goods entering into both regions.