The government has signed a deal to facilitate overseas employment for up to 5,000 Ghanaians in Dubai, starting with an initial batch of 500 workers.
The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-based firm Masa Depan Building Maintenance L.L.C. on October 12, 2026.
The agreement will see Ghanaian workers recruited for roles in construction, building maintenance and facilities management.
“The agreement establishes a framework for the phased recruitment of up to 5,000 Ghanaian workers, beginning with an initial batch of 500,” the Minister said.
Under the deal, the Ministry will oversee recruitment in Ghana, verify vacancies and employment contracts, conduct skills assessments and certification, and provide pre-departure orientation on UAE labour regulations, safety and workers’ rights.
The initiative is aimed at curbing irregular recruitment practices, preventing exploitation through excessive recruitment fees and ensuring safe and orderly migration.
“The arrangement also seeks to curb irregular recruitment practices, prevent recruitment-fee abuses and promote the safe and orderly migration of Ghanaian workers,” the statement said.
Masa Depan Building Maintenance L.L.C., represented by Managing Director Junhong Deng, will directly employ the workers and be responsible for salaries, accommodation, insurance and other employer obligations.
The company will also bear recruitment-related costs in the UAE, including visa and work permit fees, medical examinations, health insurance and airfare from Ghana to the UAE.
To safeguard workers’ welfare, the agreement includes provisions for occupational safety training, protective equipment, a designated welfare officer and a complaint-handling system that allows workers to report concerns without fees or fear of retaliation.
A Joint Working Committee will be formed to supervise recruitment, monitor working conditions and welfare, and ensure proper implementation of the agreement.
The Ministry said the partnership forms part of efforts to connect Ghanaians to international job opportunities while strengthening safeguards against exploitation and promoting skills transfer and reintegration of returning workers into Ghana’s labour market.
Source: Abigail Ekua Arhin
