Ghana, Columbus sign deal to recruit nurses for US government

The Ministry of Health has secured a new pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to access employment opportunities in the United States following an agreement between the Government of Ghana and the City of Columbus, Ohio. The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment, paving the way for the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses. The agreement follows months of technical discussions between Ghanaian officials and their counterparts in the United States. According to the Ministry of Health, the arrangement is intended to create credible international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals while ensuring that their rights and welfare are protected. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the agreement goes beyond simply recruiting nurses for jobs abroad, stressing the need to safeguard the professional interests of those who participate in the programme. “Any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers,” he said. Akandoh said the initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to secure decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals in line with the country’s Migration Policy and international standards. The partnership also builds on the existing Sister-City relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme. The Health Minister assured prospective beneficiaries that the government would continue to pursue international partnerships that create decent employment opportunities while maintaining safeguards for recruited workers. He said the Ministry would ensure that such arrangements are consistent with Ghana’s Migration Policy, international best practices and global standards. “The Minister assured that the ministry will continue to pursue partnerships that create decent jobs for Ghanaian health professionals abroad, in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy, international best practices and global standards, while ensuring that the welfare and professional rights of those recruited remain protected,” the statement said. The new agreement provides a framework for detailed arrangements between Ghana and Columbus on recruitment and deployment. The Ministry said the partnership is expected to provide qualified Ghanaian nurses with opportunities to work in the US while promoting an ethical and structured approach to international recruitment. The development comes amid continued interest among Ghanaian health professionals in employment opportunities abroad, with the government seeking to balance such opportunities with the need to protect workers and uphold international recruitment standards. NA/BAI Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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