Japan Not Against Ghana?s HIPC

THE JAPANESE Government has stressed that it has no intention to withhold development aid to Ghana, in view of the country?s decision to access the World Bank/IMF?s Highly Indebted Poor Country initiative (HIPC).

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Ms. Kazuto Asai, said that the reason for her government?s continued support to Ghana?s economic growth, even though the country has joined the HIPC league is that Japan has confidence in the Ghana Government.

According to her, the government of Japan has a lot of confidence in the present administration, for which reason the Japanese Government decided to convert its loans to Ghana into grants.

Ms. Asai made those remarks during a courtesy call on Vice-President Aliu Mahama at the Castle, Osu, yesterday?

She acknowledged the cordial bilateral relationships that exist between Ghana and Japan, hoping that it will grow stronger.

She announced that about 11 Japanese volunteers will soon arrive in Ghana to teach science in some selected schools.

In his remark, Vice-President Mahama appreciated the support Japan has offered this country since 1928.

He commended Japan for the support it has given Ghana in Agriculture, training, food aid and energy.

Alhaji Aliu urged the Japanese Government not to relent on its efforts to help Ghana?s economy to revive.

?We want Japan to come and help in infrastructural building to enhance the rapid growth of the economy. He also expressed his appreciation to the help Japan is giving towards the construction of the Accra-Yamoransa road.

Ms. Asai presented some gifts to Vice-President Mahama. These included chocolate produced in Japan with 99 per cent of its ingredients from Ghana.

She said it?s a very popular product in Japan and it is called ?Ghana? chocolate. She invited Alhaji Aliu to attend a Ghana-Japan Economic Forum on 21st August, 2002.