Ohio Senator Challenges Columbus Over $225,000 Ghana Nursing Deal

More than $8.3 million in taxpayer funds has been allocated by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther since taking office, according to a letter sent by Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno. Moreno used this figure to criticize the city's recent agreement with Ghana to establish a joint nursing program. The senator expressed his disappointment in a letter delivered to the mayor's office on Wednesday morning.

The city and Ghanaian officials signed a memorandum of understanding in September that created the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme. The agreement is designed to strengthen nursing education and expand workforce development. It also aims to create legal pathways for qualified Ghanaian nurses to join Ohio's healthcare workforce. Moreno argued that the program could result in American nurses being replaced by cheaper foreign labor.

In the letter, Moreno wrote that the city directed $225,000 in public dollars toward recruiting nurses from overseas instead of investing in Ohio's domestic workforce. He stated that this specific amount represents only a fraction of the total funds he believes have been spent to benefit noncitizens and foreign governments. Moreno warned that publicly subsidized foreign recruitment would likely hurt the wages of American nurses.

The $225,000 was approved by the Columbus City Council as a 2026 general fund grant to Greater Columbus Sister Cities International. The ordinance specifies that the money supports business, government, cultural, educational, and environmental exchanges among the city's 10 sister cities. Accra, Ghana, is one of those partner cities. The grant also covers the organization's staffing and administrative costs.

Ginther addressed the signing ceremony, noting that Ghana has invested in training nursing professionals who can migrate legally to enter the Columbus market. The Ghanaian government press release described the agreement as a strategic platform for mutual skills transfer between medical professionals. It also listed institutional strengthening for healthcare facilities, joint research collaborations, and health innovations as key components of the deal.

Conservatives on social media have criticized the partnership in recent weeks. Attorney and Republican strategist Mehek Cooke questioned why tax dollars were not funding nursing scholarships for Ohioans. Policy analyst Parker Thayer cited a homecare nurse from Ghana who allegedly stole millions from Medicaid earlier this year before fleeing the country. Moreno urged the mayor to put the money into Ohio nursing students and to expand capacity at the state's universities and colleges.

Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office for comment regarding the senator's letter and the recent grant allocation. Moreno said he hopes the mayor will redirect public money toward expanding enrollment and training capacity at area colleges. In his view, that approach would create more high-earning job opportunities for younger generations in the community and improve patient care.