The governments of Ghana and Japan on Monday, June 2, signed the Exchange of Notes on a ¥402 million grant for the “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, led by its Chief Director, Ambassador Ramses Joseph Cleland and the Embassy of Japan in Accra, led by Ambassador of Japan to Ghana, His Excellency Mr. Yoshimoto Hiroshi, undertook the signing of the agreement.

Ambassador Cleland in his remarks noted that the Japanese Development Scholarship (JDS) will empower Ghana’s youth and unlock the full potential of the nation’s workforce.

According to him, this initiative reflects the strong and enduring partnership between the governments of Ghana and Japan, aimed at building the human capital necessary to advance Ghana’s development agenda.

On behalf of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ambassador Cleland extended sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan for their continued commitment and expressed optimism for the successful implementation of the grant assistance.

His Excellency Hiroshi, on his part, expressed appreciation to the sector minister for his ongoing support and to Ambassador Cleland for signing the agreement on behalf of Ghana.

Highlighting the significance of the JDS since its inception in 2012, the Ambassador underscored Japan’s dedication to supporting Ghana’s human resource development through quality education and capacity building.

He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to further strengthen the enduring partnership between the two countries through sustained cooperation in human resource development.

Over the said agreement, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson met with Executive Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Miyazaki Katsura, who reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to long-term development cooperation  in preparing Ghanaian professionals for leadership and institutional reform.

Dr Ato Forson expressed Ghana’s appreciation to the government and people of Japan for their consistent support. He noted that the programme aligns with Ghana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and build a resilient, knowledge-driven public sector.

In April this year, the sector Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa indicated that Ghana and Japan are committed to advancing key infrastructural and agricultural initiatives, focusing on improving regional connectivity and agricultural output.

The two nations have agreed to prioritize the revival of the Volivo to Dorfor Adidome bridge project. This bridge will serve as a critical link between the Greater Accra, Volta, and Eastern Regions, enhancing transportation and trade across these areas.

Additionally, they plan to develop an interchange in the Ashanti Region to reduce congestion, improving traffic flow and accessibility for both residents and businesses.

Another significant area of focus is providing technical support to boost rice production in Ghana. This initiative aims to increase local rice yields, thereby promoting food security and reducing dependence on imported rice.

In addition to these projects, Ghana will be fully represented at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), where discussions will focus on strengthening ties with Japan. A key area of focus will be scaling up chocolate exports to Japan, in response to the growing demand for high-quality Ghanaian chocolate in the Japanese market.