Ghana has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Columbus, Ohio, establishing the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme, which will create formal legal pathways for qualified Ghanaian nurses to work in the United States.
The agreement was signed at the Michael B. Coleman Government Centre by Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Ghana’s Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum .
The partnership builds upon the sister-city agreement established between Columbus and Greater Accra in 2015, marking a significant expansion of Ghana-US cooperation in healthcare workforce development .
A Strategic Opportunity
Mayor Ginther highlighted Columbus as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States and expressed enthusiasm for the mutual benefits of the exchange. “Ghana has made significant investment in training nursing professionals who can migrate legally to enter a ready market in Columbus,” he noted .
The agreement comes at a critical time for central Ohio, where hospitals are grappling with a national nursing shortage driven by retirements, burnout, and stress . Health system leaders in the region have been actively seeking solutions to attract and retain nursing talent .
For Ghana, the partnership represents a structured approach to labour migration that could generate economic benefits through remittances while providing Ghanaian nurses with international experience and career advancement.
Beyond Recruitment
Health Minister Akandoh emphasized that the agreement extends far beyond simple labour migration, describing the MoU as a strategic platform for mutual skills transfer between medical professionals, institutional strengthening for healthcare facilities, joint research collaborations, and health innovations .
The Ministry of Health stated that the MoU stresses that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare, and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers . The partnership will ensure recruitment is conducted in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards .
Mr Akandoh praised the resilience of Ghana’s workforce, noting that this framework could soon serve as a blueprint for replication in other U.S. states .
Implementation and Partners
The historic partnership was facilitated through the joint efforts of Buckeye Africa Exchange, StrideHx, and Columbus Sister Cities International .
Ambassador Mrs Jane Gasu Aheto, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, D.C., praised the Ghanaian diaspora in Columbus for driving the initiative. She stressed that the agreement “must not remain a piece of paper, but must be a living, breathing programme that changes lives” .
Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum also said the initiative could provide a framework for similar partnerships between Ghana and other states in the United States .
Broader Context
The agreement follows months of technical discussions with U.S. counterparts and forms part of the government’s broader strategy to secure credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals .
In July 2026, Health Minister Akandoh disclosed that the government was expected to sign similar MoUs with the United States and the United Kingdom to facilitate structured deployment of Ghanaian health professionals . The minister had also noted that such programmes are intended to promote structured labour migration while generating economic benefits for Ghana through remittances .
The partnership leverages the existing Ghana Labour Exchange Programme and the long-standing sister-city relationship between Accra and Columbus .
What It Means for Nurses
For Ghanaian nurses seeking to practice in the U.S., the agreement provides a formal, legal pathway that reduces the risks associated with unregulated migration. A Ghanaian nurse already practicing in the U.S. has advised colleagues to pursue general nursing qualifications rather than specialising too early, as general qualifications offer greater flexibility for licensing and transition abroad .
The partnership is expected to prioritise ethical recruitment practices and ensure that Ghanaian nurses are not subjected to exploitation while working abroad.
