Ghana, Columbus sign MoU to establish nursing partnership programme

Ghana and the City of Columbus, Ohio, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme, aimed at strengthening nursing education, workforce development and legal employment pathways for Ghanaian nurses in the United States.

The agreement was signed at the Michael B. Coleman Government Center 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 programme is expected to create opportunities for Ghanaian-trained nurses to enter Columbus’ healthcare sector through formal and legal pathways. It will also promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between healthcare professionals and institutions in Ghana and the United States.

The new initiative builds on the Sister-City agreement between Columbus and the Greater Accra Region, established in 2015.

Mayor Ginther described Columbus as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States and said the partnership offered an opportunity to deepen people-to-people exchanges between Ghana and the city.

“Ghana has made significant investment in training nursing professionals who can migrate legally to enter a ready market in Columbus,” he said at the signing ceremony.

He expressed optimism that the partnership would deliver mutual benefits for both Ghana and Columbus.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the agreement should not be viewed solely as a framework for labour migration, arguing that it provides a broader platform for strengthening healthcare systems in both countries.

“The agreement goes far beyond simple labour migration,” he said.

Mr Akandoh explained that the partnership would support skills transfer among medical professionals, institutional strengthening for healthcare facilities, joint research and health innovation.

He said the collaboration could ultimately contribute to improved patient outcomes globally.

Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum praised the skills and resilience of Ghana’s workforce, describing the agreement as a potentially significant model for international workforce partnerships.

He suggested that the framework could eventually be replicated in other US states seeking to address healthcare workforce needs while creating structured opportunities for Ghanaian professionals.

Deputy Head of Mission at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Jane Gasu Aheto, commended members of the Ghanaian diaspora in Columbus for helping advance the initiative.

She urged stakeholders to ensure that the agreement produces tangible opportunities and improvements rather than remaining a symbolic diplomatic arrangement.

“This must not remain a piece of paper, but must be a living, breathing programme that changes lives,” Ambassador Aheto said.

The Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme was facilitated through the collaborative efforts of Buckeye Africa Exchange, StrideHx and Columbus Sister Cities International.

The parties say the initiative is intended to strengthen the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Columbus while creating sustainable opportunities in healthcare education, professional development, research and employment.