8.8 C
London
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ghana, Barbados sign major port, health agreements

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA – 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
trans shipment 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, 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.

GNA

Latest news

Related news