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 Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, sets the stage for detailed arrangements on the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses.
The partnership follows months of technical discussions between Ghanaian authorities and their counterparts in the United States.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the agreement went beyond recruitment, emphasising that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.
He said the initiative formed part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to secure credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.
According to Mr Akandoh, the partnership builds on the existing Sister-City relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.
He assured that the Ministry would continue to pursue partnerships that create decent jobs for Ghanaian health professionals abroad.
Such partnerships, he said, would be pursued in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy, international best practices and global standards, while ensuring that the welfare and professional rights of recruited health workers remained protected.
