Ghana Moves to Protect Nurses in US Recruitment Deal
The government is seeking to ensure that Ghanaian nurses recruited for jobs in the United States receive proper protection and fair treatment under a new partnership with the City of Columbus, Ohio.
The commitment is at the centre of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Ghana’s Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment with the City of Columbus, creating a framework for the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals to the US.
The agreement follows months of technical discussions between Ghanaian authorities and their US counterparts and is expected to guide subsequent arrangements for the recruitment of qualified health workers, particularly nurses.
Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said Ghana’s interest in international employment opportunities for its health professionals must go hand in hand with measures to protect those who take up such opportunities.
He said the agreement goes beyond recruitment, noting that the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers must remain a priority throughout the deployment process.
According to Mr Akandoh, the initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to create credible and decent employment opportunities for Ghanaian professionals abroad while ensuring that recruitment processes conform to Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.
He said the partnership also builds on the longstanding sister-city relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.
The Minister assured that the Ministry would continue to pursue similar partnerships that expand opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals while promoting responsible migration and protecting workers from unfair recruitment practices.
He said future engagements would be guided by international best practices and global standards to ensure that Ghanaians who secure employment abroad are treated fairly and their professional rights upheld.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
