The Government has secured a new pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to obtain employment opportunities in the United States following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Columbus, Ohio.
The agreement, signed by the Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment, provides a framework for further arrangements on the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses, to the US.
The deal follows months of technical discussions between the Ministries and their counterparts in the United States.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the agreement went beyond creating employment opportunities, stressing that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.
He said the initiative formed part of the Ministry’s efforts to secure credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.
According to Mr. Akandoh, the partnership built on the existing Sister-City relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.
He said the government would continue to pursue partnerships that created decent employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals abroad while ensuring that the recruitment process met international best practices and global standards.
The Minister assured prospective beneficiaries that the government would prioritise their welfare and professional rights under any recruitment and deployment arrangements.