In June 2025, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MLJE), in collaboration with the ILO's FAIR III Project (funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation and GIZ) and the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) (funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and jointly implemented by the African Union Commission, IOM, and ILO) hosted a landmark three-day national workshop on Advancing Labour Mobility and Strengthening Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs) in Ghana. The event brought together key stakeholders, including government ministries, consular officials, trade unions, migrant associations, civil society organizations, and international partners to reflect on Ghana’s progress and chart a clear way forward for rights-based labour migration governance.

For decades, labour migration has provided Ghanaian workers with valuable employment opportunities, with nearly one million Ghanaians working overseas as of 2019 (47% of whom are women). Yet behind these numbers lie deeply personal stories of hardship and resilience. Many low-skilled workers, especially in the Arab States, face harsh conditions including unpaid wages, confiscated passports, and the sudden replacement of agreed contracts with exploitative terms. These violations underscore the critical need for structured, enforceable agreements that safeguard migrants’ rights.

Ghana has signed only one BLMA with Qatar (although it is yet to be ratified by Parliament and implemented). Negotiations are currently ongoing for additional BLMAs with countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. In addition to BLMAs, Ghana has signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with countries including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and is engaged in ongoing negotiations with others such as Italy, Mauritius, and the United Kingdom, primarily in the health and social care sector.

The workshop opened with a clear call for action from the ILO, IOM, and MLJE, highlighting the need for stronger cooperation to ensure fair recruitment and protection for Ghanaian migrant workers, particularly in the Arab States. Stakeholders examined migration data trends, assessed the current landscape of Ghana’s BLMA efforts, and identified persistent vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers across the migration cycle.

Panel sessions involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consular officials, and migrant representatives brought diverse perspectives to the fore. These conversations reinforced the urgent need to institutionalize inter-ministerial coordination, ensure migrant voice and agency in decision-making, and strengthen Ghana’s role as an equal partner in bilateral negotiations.

Ama (not her real name), a returnee migrant worker who came back from Iraq who shared her experience during the panel discussion, recounted how she had initially signed a contract to work in Turkey. However, upon arrival, she found herself in Iraq, employed as a domestic worker under entirely different conditions than what had been promised. Her passport was confiscated, leaving her trapped and unable to return home even when the situation became intolerable. She spoke of enduring long working hours, verbal and sexual abuse, and months without pay; an ordeal that made her eventual return to Ghana a hard-fought struggle. Ama’s story is one shared by thousands of Ghanaian migrant workers, particularly women, who venture abroad seeking economic opportunities, only to find themselves trapped in cycles of exploitation and abuse

The workshop focused on deepening participants’ understanding of international labour standards, especially ILO Conventions C.97, C.143, C.181, and C.189, and how they can be effectively reflected in BLMA provisions. Drawing from international labour standards, the UN and AU guidelines on BLMA, the ILO provided technical inputs to Ghana’s draft BLMA and standard employment contract by integrating minimum rights-based standards such as decent working conditions, social protection, and accessible grievance mechanisms.

Stakeholders participated in interactive role-play and practical exercises to strengthen their drafting and negotiation skills for bilateral labour migration partnerships. These simulations not only fostered technical know-how but also emphasized equal partnership principles. The workshop also highlighted the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to monitoring and evaluating BLMA implementation, ensuring that all relevant institutions are aligned in their roles and mandates.

This workshop exemplifies what it means to turn global guidance into national action. It is a story of ownership, partnership, and hope. Through the FAIR III programme, Ghana is not only enhancing its capacity to draft, negotiate, implement and monitor BLMA, it is reimagining labour migration governance as a tool for empowerment and equity. And in doing so, it is sending a clear message to its workers around the world: your rights matter, your dignity matters, and we are working to protect them; one agreement at a time.