Ghana and the City of Columbus, Ohio, have launched a new healthcare partnership. The partnership will strengthen nursing education, skills development and medical innovation. It will also create opportunities for healthcare professionals in Ghana and Columbus to share knowledge and expertise.
The Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme was established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU was signed on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Michael B. Coleman Government Center in Columbus. Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther signed the agreement on behalf of the city.
Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, also signed the agreement. The programme will support stronger healthcare institutions in both locations. It will also promote joint research and health innovation.
Mr. Akandoh said the partnership is about more than moving nurses between Ghana and the United States. He said it would allow medical professionals to share skills and knowledge.
The partnership will also support research, innovation and stronger healthcare institutions. It is expected to contribute to better patient health outcomes around the world.
The programme will also build on Ghana’s investment in training nursing professionals. It will connect trained Ghanaian nurses with opportunities in Columbus.
Mayor Ginther described Columbus as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. He said the partnership could bring mutual benefits to Ghana and Columbus.
“Ghana has made significant investment in training nursing professionals who can migrate legally to enter a ready market in Columbus,” he said.
Mr. Agyekum praised the resilience of Ghana’s workforce. He said the framework could also be used as a model in other US states.
The new agreement builds on the Sister-City relationship between Columbus and Greater Accra. The relationship was established in 2015.
Ambassador Mrs. Jane Gasu Aheto, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, also welcomed the partnership. She recognised the role of the Ghanaian community in Columbus in helping to drive the initiative. She called on stakeholders to ensure that the agreement delivers real results.
The agreement “must not remain a piece of paper, but must be a living, breathing programme that changes lives,” she said. Buckeye Africa Exchange, StrideHx and Columbus Sister Cities International helped facilitate the partnership.
The Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme is expected to deepen healthcare cooperation between Ghana and Columbus. It will also create more opportunities for professional development, research and health innovation.
