Gov't secures US jobs pathway for nurses through Columbus partnership

The Ministry of Health has secured a new pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to access employment opportunities in the United States.

The arrangement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Ghana and the City of Columbus, Ohio.

The agreement is expected to pave the way for detailed arrangements on the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the agreement is not solely focused on recruitment but would also protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.

“The MoU goes beyond recruitment, stressing that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers,” he said as quoted in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The MoU was signed by the Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment following months of technical discussions with counterparts in the United States.

The Ministry said the partnership would create credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals and also ensure that recruitment is conducted in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.

The initiative also builds on the existing Sister-City relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.

Akandoh said the government would continue to pursue partnerships that provide Ghanaian health professionals with decent employment opportunities abroad.