The Government of Ghana has secured a new pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to access employment opportunities in the United States following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Columbus, Ohio.
The agreement, signed by the Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment, follows months of technical discussions between Ghanaian and US officials.
It is expected to pave the way for detailed arrangements on the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses, to the United States.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the partnership would go beyond simply recruiting health workers, stressing that the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian nurses must be protected throughout the process.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at creating credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals while ensuring that recruitment is conducted in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.
The partnership builds on the existing Sister-City relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.
Mr Akandoh assured health professionals that the government would continue to pursue international partnerships capable of creating decent employment opportunities for Ghanaian health workers.
He said such engagements would be guided by international best practices and global standards, with particular attention to protecting the welfare and professional rights of workers recruited under the arrangements.
