Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the Government of Ghana is in talks with the Republic of Serbia to secure a labour mobility agreement as part of efforts to expand employment opportunities for Ghanaians abroad.
This comes after Serbia announced its intention to offer 100,000 international work permits in 2025, with Ghana positioned as one of the potential partner countries to benefit from this opportunity.
“We are also negotiating a labour mobility agreement considering that Serbia seeks to offer 100,000 international work permits this year,” Mr. Ablakwa stated during a bilateral meeting in Accra with the visiting Serbian Foreign Minister, H.E. Marko Durić.
The announcement was made during the Serbian minister’s three-day official visit to Ghana, which began at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit is aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between the two nations.
Welcoming the Serbian delegation, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expressed his delight at the renewed partnership and highlighted the historic foundations of Ghana-Serbia relations.
“With absolute delight and great honour, I today welcomed the Foreign Minister of Serbia, H.E. Marko Durić to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the commencement of his 3-day official visit to Ghana,” Mr. Ablakwa announced.
He underscored the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1959, a relationship originally forged by President Kwame Nkrumah and President Josip Broz Tito. Both leaders were instrumental in launching the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961, a legacy still evident today. Mr. Ablakwa noted that the Accra International Conference Centre, constructed by Serbian engineers for the 10th NAM Ministerial Conference in 1991, stands as a lasting symbol of this partnership.
As part of the renewed cooperation, both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to international peace, adherence to the UN Charter, and multilateral diplomacy. They also pledged to expand collaboration in key sectors including trade, agriculture, artificial intelligence, sports, defence, and educational scholarships.
One of the major highlights of the visit is the negotiation of a labour mobility agreement between Ghana and Serbia. The Serbian government is seeking to issue 100,000 international work permits this year to address labour shortages and is looking to countries like Ghana for skilled and semi-skilled workers.
“We are also negotiating a labour mobility agreement considering that Serbia seeks to offer 100,000 international work permits this year,” Mr. Ablakwa confirmed.
The visit of Minister Durić is being hailed as a significant step toward deeper economic and diplomatic engagement between Ghana and Serbia, rooted in a historic alliance and driven by mutual interests in global cooperation.