Ghana has made significant progress in negotiations with the United Kingdom to exempt Ghanaian students and professionals from taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examinations, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.

Mr Ablakwa announced the development following a meeting with the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Edward Miliband, where the two officials reviewed bilateral relations and discussed trade, investment, reparatory justice and cooperation on multilateral issues.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr Ablakwa said Ghana had demonstrated that it met the minimum statistical threshold for English proficiency required for favourable consideration by the UK.

He said both sides remained optimistic about the outcome of the negotiations, which he initiated to ease the requirements facing Ghanaians seeking educational and professional opportunities in the UK.

The proposed exemption, if agreed, could reduce the testing requirements for eligible Ghanaian students and professionals pursuing opportunities in Britain.

The two ministers also welcomed the growth in trade and investment between Ghana and the UK, while discussing President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for reparatory justice following a Ghana-led United Nations resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement of Africans the gravest crime against humanity.

They further discussed shared priorities ahead of 2027, when Ghana is expected to chair the African Union while the UK assumes the G20 Presidency.

Preparations for next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda also featured in their discussions.

Mr Ablakwa expressed appreciation to Mr Miliband for the hospitality and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding relations with the UK.