Moreno questions Columbus mayor over Ghana nursing program

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, criticized Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther on Wednesday for directing public money toward a nursing partnership with Ghana. Moreno wrote to the mayor regarding a memorandum of understanding signed in September. The agreement establishes the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme.

The senator argued that the city prioritized foreign labor over domestic workers. "Instead of investing in Ohio’s domestic workforce, you and the Columbus City Council chose to direct $225,000 in public dollars towards recruiting nurses from overseas," Moreno wrote. He expressed disappointment with the decision made in the state capital.

Moreno noted that the $225,000 grant is part of a larger spending pattern. He stated that the city has spent approximately $8.3 million in taxpayer dollars on initiatives benefiting noncitizens and foreign governments since Ginther took office. The senator said these funds were "lit on fire" to support foreign entities.

The $225,000 was approved by the Columbus City Council as a 2026 general fund grant. The money goes to Greater Columbus Sister Cities International. An ordinance states the grant supports business, government, cultural, educational, and environmental exchanges. It also covers staffing and administrative costs for the organization's ten sister city relationships, including Accra, Ghana.

Moreno warned that the program could lower wages for American nurses. He suggested that public funds should instead expand enrollment and training capacity at Ohio colleges and universities. "You were elected to serve the citizens of Columbus, not the citizens of Ghana," the senator wrote. He recommended policies that invest public funds directly in American nurses.

Mayor Ginther defended the move during the September signing ceremony. "Ghana has made significant investment in training nursing professionals who can migrate legally to enter a ready market in Columbus," Ginther said. A press release from the government of Ghana added that the agreement serves as a strategic platform for mutual skills transfer and joint research collaborations.

The partnership has drawn attention from conservatives on social media. GOP strategist Mehek Cooke questioned why tax dollars fund foreign recruitment instead of Ohioan scholarships. Policy analyst Parker Thayer referenced a 2024 case where a Ghanaian homecare nurse fled to Ghana after allegedly stealing millions from Medicaid. Ginther's office did not respond to a request for comment.