Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made a formal request to the United Kingdom to exempt Ghanaian students and professionals from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirement. This appeal was made during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Christian Rogg, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the Minister, the IELTS requirement places an unnecessary burden on Ghanaians, given that English is the official language and medium of instruction in Ghana. Ablakwa argued that this requirement is redundant, as Ghanaian students have already spent over a decade receiving formal education in English.
The meeting between Ablakwa and Rogg focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and the UK, with priority areas including security, trade, job creation, health, education, and governance. The two countries are also exploring ways to enhance frameworks protecting the welfare and professional rights of Ghanaian nationals, particularly health workers seeking employment opportunities in the UK ¹ ² ³.
Ablakwa emphasized that Ghana’s request is not only about cost considerations but also about fairness and policy coherence. He noted that many Ghanaian graduates already meet academic and professional language standards through their training and certification, making additional testing unnecessary.
The UK government has not made an immediate decision on the request, but officials described the engagement as constructive, with assurances that concerns will be transmitted to relevant authorities for consideration.
The exemption request is part of broader diplomatic efforts to upgrade Ghana-UK relations to a Strategic Partnership, aiming to streamline cooperation and reduce structural barriers affecting Ghanaian students and professionals abroad.
Author: Korkor Anumu
