Ghana and Columbus, Ohio, United States, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme, creating a formal framework for nursing education, workforce development, and international employment opportunities.
The agreement, signed at the Michael B. Coleman Government Centre in Columbus on September 14, 2026, is expected to provide legal pathways for qualified Ghanaian nurses to access employment opportunities within Ohio’s growing healthcare sector.
The MoU was signed on behalf of Ghana by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, while Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther signed on behalf of the city.
According to the Health Minister, the partnership goes beyond simply sending Ghanaian nurses abroad for employment.
The programme is expected to promote skills transfer among health professionals, strengthen healthcare institutions, encourage joint research and innovation, and support efforts to improve patient outcomes.
Mr Akandoh also stressed the importance of protecting the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers who take up opportunities abroad.
He said international employment opportunities must be accompanied by responsible and ethical recruitment practices that are consistent with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.
The new nursing partnership builds on the existing Sister-City relationship between Columbus and the Greater Accra Region, which dates back to 2015.
Mayor Ginther welcomed the agreement, highlighting the potential for stronger people-to-people exchanges between Ghana and Columbus.
The initiative was facilitated through the collaboration of Buckeye Africa Exchange, StrideHx and Columbus Sister Cities International.
Deputy Head of Mission at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Jane Gasu Aheto, commended members of the Ghanaian diaspora in Columbus for helping drive the initiative.
She called on stakeholders to ensure that the agreement translates into practical benefits for health professionals and healthcare institutions.
The development forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to create international employment opportunities for health professionals while ensuring that migration is properly managed and workers are protected.
The government has indicated that similar labour mobility arrangements with other countries are also being pursued to create opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals abroad.
