Ghanaian Nurses To Get U.S.A Employment Opportunities Under New Agreement

Qualified Ghanaian nurses are set to gain access to employment opportunities in the United States following an agreement between the Ghanaian government and the City of Columbus in Ohio.

The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Ghana’s Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment after months of discussions with US counterparts.

It is expected to provide a framework for further arrangements on the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses.

The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the arrangement must go beyond providing jobs and ensure that Ghanaian health workers recruited under the programme are protected.

He said their rights, welfare and professional interests would have to be considered in any deployment arrangement.

The minister said the initiative formed part of efforts to create credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals.

He said the partnership was also in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards on the recruitment of workers.

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

The government says the arrangement will provide a structured pathway for qualified Ghanaian health professionals seeking employment opportunities abroad.

Mr Akandoh said the Ministry of Health would continue to pursue similar partnerships while ensuring that the rights and welfare of Ghanaian professionals remained protected.

The agreement comes as Ghana continues to engage other countries and institutions on opportunities for its skilled workforce to secure employment abroad through regulated and ethical recruitment arrangements.