Ghana and the City of Columbus in Ohio, United States, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme, aimed at strengthening nursing education, workforce development and healthcare cooperation.
The agreement was signed on September 14, 2026, at the Michael B. Coleman Government Center in Columbus by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Ghana’s Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum.
The partnership will create formal pathways for qualified Ghanaian nurses to legally join Ohio’s growing healthcare workforce while promoting collaboration in nursing education and professional development.
It builds on the Sister-City agreement between Columbus and Greater Accra established in 2015.
Mayor Ginther described Columbus as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States and welcomed the opportunity to strengthen 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.
Mr Akandoh said the agreement went beyond facilitating the migration of Ghanaian nurses, describing it as a strategic platform for broader healthcare cooperation.
He said the partnership would promote skills transfer among medical professionals, strengthen healthcare institutions, support joint research and health innovation, and contribute to improved patient outcomes globally.
Mr Agyekum commended the resilience and skills of Ghana’s workforce, saying the framework could serve as a model for similar partnerships between Ghana and other US states.
Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, Ambassador Jane Gasu Aheto, also commended the Ghanaian diaspora in Columbus for helping to drive the initiative.
She urged stakeholders to ensure the agreement produces measurable benefits rather than remaining on paper.
“The agreement must not remain a piece of paper, but must be a living, breathing programme that changes lives,” she said.
The partnership was facilitated through the joint efforts of Buckeye Africa Exchange, StrideHx and Columbus Sister Cities International.
