The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has formally appealed to the United Kingdom to exempt Ghanaian students and professionals from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirement and its associated fees when applying to study or work in the UK.
The request was made during a bilateral meeting with the British High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Christian Rogg, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The discussions centered on enhancing Ghana-UK relations, with emphasis on deepening cooperation in key areas such as security, trade, job creation, health, education, governance, and constitutional review.
Explaining the rationale behind the appeal, Mr. Ablakwa noted that English has been the primary medium of instruction in Ghanaian educational institutions for decades, rendering the IELTS redundant for applicants from the country.
“We called for Ghana to be exempted from the IELTS and the fees payable by Ghanaian students and professionals since English has long been the medium of instruction in Ghana,” he stated.