Ghana and Japan have signalled a renewed commitment to deepen economic cooperation and fast-track priority infrastructure projects following a bilateral meeting between President John Dramani Mahama and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of TICAD 9 in Yokohama.
President Mahama underscored Ghana’s pivotal role in Japan’s cocoa supply, noting that the country provides about 70% of Japan’s cocoa imports.
He urged Japanese firms to scale up investments in Ghana’s cocoa value chain, including a proposed public–private partnership with the Cocoa Processing Company to modernise facilities and drive value addition.
The President also pointed to upcoming milestones in Ghana and Japan relations—most notably the centenary of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s arrival in Ghana and the 50th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in 2027—commemorations he had earlier discussed with Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Hiroshi Yoshimoto.,
He announced that Japan reaffirmed its readiness to work with the Government of Ghana on infrastructure and to expedite solutions to funding gaps.
“We also discussed multilateral cooperation, including support for Japan’s candidate, Masahiko Metoki, for Director General of the UPU International Bureau, and Japan’s positions on UN Security Council reform,” Mahama stated.
He added: “I am grateful for Japan’s continued friendship and look forward to concrete next steps that deliver jobs, value addition, and connectivity for Ghanaians.”
