Ghana has signed a bilateral labour agreement with the State of Qatar to facilitate the safe and legally protected deployment of Ghanaian workers to the Middle Eastern country, the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has announced.

The agreement, signed on Ghana’s behalf by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is intended to create structured employment pathways for Ghanaians seeking work abroad, while safeguarding their rights under clearly defined labour frameworks.

Speaking on The AM Show yesterday in Accra, Dr Pelpuo said Qatar’s initial request for labour would focus largely on technical and specialised skills, including engineering, mechanical work, and other vocational areas.

He explained that the agreement would allow Ghanaian workers to be employed across various sectors, depending on demand and qualifications, within a formal system designed to ensure safety, dignity, and accountability.

Dr Pelpuo stressed the importance of regulating overseas recruitment, warning that informal travel arrangements often expose migrant workers to abuse and exploitation.

He noted that the agreement would ensure that workers are properly documented, providing a clear framework for accountability in the event of disputes or challenges.

“It is important that the people who will be going are properly documented and formalised. That way, if there are any challenges, there is a clear agreement to fall on, and the person or institution that signed the memorandum of understanding can be held accountable,” he elaborated.

The minister also disclosed that the agreement included provisions to educate Ghanaian workers on both Ghana’s labour laws and Qatar’s employment regulations, including standards for worker welfare and mechanisms for dispute resolution.

According to Dr Pelpuo, concerns were raised during discussions with Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, over past reports of labour abuses involving migrant workers in the country.

However, he emphasised that Qatari authorities had assured Ghana that those issues were linked to previous systems and that labour laws had since been significantly strengthened.

Dr Pelpuo described the agreement as a critical step towards protecting Ghanaians seeking employment opportunities abroad, saying it would help ensure support and accountability for workers deployed under the arrangement.

“So you don’t just pack your bags when you hear that someone is needed somewhere, only to later run into trouble with no one to help you. This agreement has been done to keep Ghanaians safe and to ensure there is support and accountability if anything goes wrong,” he indicated.