The IOM office in Accra and the Ghanaian Ministry of Health have
signed an agreement to encourage Ghanaians and other African health
professionals employed in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and
Germany to take up temporary employment in Ghanaian health
institutions.

The 1.4 million euro Dutch-funded project, part of an on-going
IOM Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) programme, will
facilitate the temporary return of 150 Ghanaian health
professionals and allow health professionals in Ghana to undertake
internships in university hospitals or other health institutions in
the Netherlands.

This initiative will primarily focus on the health needs in
Ghana's three northern regions and on the central Brong Ahafo
region.

"This programme is based on the fact that Ghanaians abroad are
determined to further the development of their home country,
providing appropriate programmes and policies are put in place to
encourage their temporary return and facilitate a crucial transfer
of skills," says Davide Terzi, IOM's Chief of Mission in
Ghana.   

The MIDA Ghana Health programme, which was launched in 2003, has
allowed the temporary return of 65 Ghanaian health
professionals.

Like other many other countries in Africa, Ghana has suffered
from the loss of qualified health professionals who have emigrated
to Europe and other parts of the world to find employment.

For more information, please contact:

David Appiah

IOM Ghana

Tel:  +233 21 508698

E-mail: "mailto:dappiah@iom.int">dappiah@iom.int