The Ministry of Health has confirmed that more than 100 nurses recruited from Ghana are expected to arrive in Antigua and Barbuda today at approximately 2:30 p.m., as the government moves to address critical staffing shortages within the public healthcare system.
The government says the decision was driven by long-standing and worsening nurse shortages that have placed significant strain on healthcare workers and posed risks to patient care.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Stacey Gregg-Paige, who led the recruitment mission to Ghana, explained at a press conference last week that the process was conducted through formal government-to-government arrangements.
She said the initiative was executed under a Memorandum of Understanding and a Service Agreement between Antigua and Barbuda and the Government of Ghana, both of which were reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph and Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Stacey Gregg-Paige (front row) attend graduation for the Assistive Nursing Personnel Programme (photo by Ministry of Health)
“This arrangement is lawful, transparent, and fully compliant with public service, regulatory and immigration requirements,” Gregg-Paige stated, adding that the framework provides clear accountability and oversight.
The recruitment exercise was carried out in Accra from September 16 to 22, 2025, under Ghana’s Labour Exchange Programme, in collaboration with the Ministry of Special Initiatives in the Office of the President.
Of the 190 applications received, 32 were disqualified due to incomplete documentation or ineligibility. Following competency-based interviews, 127 candidates were selected for vetting by the Antigua and Barbuda Nursing Council.
Upon arrival today, the Ghanaian nurses will undergo a structured three-week orientation programme before being assigned to their respective units.
The onboarding process will include cultural orientation, familiarisation with local healthcare systems, clinical alignment, and role-specific training to ensure a smooth transition into the workforce.
Health officials estimate that Antigua and Barbuda requires approximately 400 nurses to operate its healthcare system effectively.
Currently, there are about 260 local nurses and 33 Cuban nurses in service. The addition of roughly 120 Ghanaian nurses is expected to bring staffing levels slightly above the minimum operational threshold and significantly improve the nurse-to-patient ratio, which currently stands at approximately one nurse to ten patients.
The government has also pointed to the successful deployment of Ghanaian nurses in other Caribbean countries, including Barbados and The Bahamas, citing positive reports on their professionalism and performance as a key factor influencing the recruitment decision.
That is good but please tell them to leave their BABA in Africa and walk with Jesus we have enough voodoo in ANU and we need no more
Same thing I was thinking.
International recruitment is often used when local training pipelines take time to meet demand. We need to strengthen our local nurses
We should give them a grand welcome at the airport.
As long as they are knowledgeable. That’s alll
In addition to improving our healthcare system hopefully they fall in love with the country as well
Fall in love with the country? Steups. I bet their agenda is to fall in love with Antiguan men, get pregnant and married to stay, then migrate elsewhere with their Antiguan passports after they dump the men. I hope they send them packing when their time is up and not allow them to linger around holding on to jobs that rightfully belong to locals. We don’t need more migrants here taking up space and snapping up what belongs to Antiguans. I certainly wouldn’t want any of them near me, and they better not be rude and rough towards patients as if they have the right to do so. I certainly hope that if any of them pass their place and disrespect or harm patients, they are duly and fully disciplined and sent back instead of allowing them to do as they like with impunity.
Retarded, idiotic, judgmental people like you is why the country will stay on a merry go round. Does it even look like the locals want the jobs? On top of that, is anyone for disrespecting to patients than the local nurses here?? Hmm. It’s so quick to bring down the help given you nasty baffoons, that’s why they say it’s not good to help stray dogs cause it will turn around and bite you….. you’re living in a country with a failing healthcare system and instead of upholding and encouraging the ones sent to help save the system, you’re here talking all manner of evil against the people. People like you are just sick! I hope you don’t end up in the hospital and require help from one of these nurses…. It’s not the locals job if the locals running from it. COUNT ON YOUR FINGERS HOW MANY NURSES ARE AT THE SLBMC… now just shut up.
120 more nurses will make a huge difference for patients—one nurse to ten patients is too tough.
Is air peace taking them here?
Why is it we love the Whiteman and whitewoman and are so negative towards those people of our own skin?