By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
The Government of Ghana has secured a new pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses and other health professionals 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 Ghana’s Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment, follows months of technical discussions with their counterparts in the United States.
The partnership is expected to establish a framework for the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, with nurses expected to be a key group to benefit from the initiative.
Speaking on the agreement, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the arrangement was not solely focused on recruitment but would also prioritise the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.
He stressed that any deployment programme must provide decent and credible employment opportunities while ensuring that recruited professionals are adequately protected.
According to the Minister, the initiative forms part of the Ministry of Health’s broader efforts to create legitimate international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals in accordance with Ghana’s Migration Policy and relevant international standards.
The partnership also builds on the existing Sister-City relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.
Mr. Akandoh assured Ghanaian health professionals that the government would continue to pursue partnerships capable of creating decent employment opportunities abroad.
He said such initiatives would be guided by Ghana’s Migration Policy, international best practices and global standards, with particular attention to safeguarding the welfare, rights and professional interests of health workers recruited under the programme.
The agreement could provide a structured avenue for qualified Ghanaian nurses seeking opportunities in the US while establishing safeguards around the recruitment and deployment process.
