Hisanobou Mochizuki (left), exchanging the MoU with Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong after signing at the Jubilee House
Ghana and Japan have decided to strengthen the already cordial relations.
Presidents of the two countries, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the commitment at the Jubilee House Monday evening after leading their respective delegations in bilateral talks as part of Prime Minister Kishida’s two-day state visit to Ghana.
As part of the agreement to deepen relations, Ghana and Japan exchanged notes by signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The first was a project for the enhancement of rice seeds production capacity and another for human resource development scholarship.
“I wish to reassure Prime Minister Kishida that Ghana will continue to collaborate with Japan to find solutions to challenges such as the eradication of widespread poverty, elimination of irregular migration, insecurity and human rights violation, terrorism and violent extremism, human and drug trafficking, piracy as well as climate change and its attendant negative impact on the environment and livelihoods,” President Akufo-Addo said.
That, he said, was because “this evening’s meeting has further boosted the steadfast cooperation between our two countries, and Ghana will continue to associate with Japan at all levels, particularly towards the peaceful resolution of conflicts and in the search for global peace and security to promote sustainable development around the globe.”
Speaking through an interpreter, the Japanese Prime Minister noted that Japan considers Ghana to be a very important and strategic partner in the West Africa region.
He, therefore, pledged his government’s commitment to ensure that it deepens its already strong relations with Ghana.
He noted that the area of infrastructure development is one that Japan will endeavour to continue its support for Ghana, in order to complete ongoing projects and to initiate new ones, with specific reference to the phase two of the Tema Motorway roundabout.
On the issue of security, the Japanese leader noted that “without peace and security, there can be no economic growth.”
He, therefore, welcomed “Ghana’s efforts through the Accra Initiative and other endeavours to secure peace and stability” in West Africa, especially, in the coastal states.
He has thus announced a $500 million grant to support efforts aimed at securing the entire Gulf of Guinea geopolitical area.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent