"Japan Won't Abandon Ghana"

The First Secretary to the Japanese Embassy, Mr. Takanobu Kuroda, has insisted President Kufuor can count on Japan\'s continued support if Ghana decides to join the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.

During his first sessional address last Thursday, President Kufuor stated that his government would make a definitive policy statement before the end of March regarding Ghana\'s entry to the internationl debt relief scheme.


Japan has not actively encouraged Ghana\'s participation in the scheme, but in an interview with the Chronicle, Mr. Kuroda said the idea that Japan would cease all aid to Ghana if the country were to join HIPC was a complete misunderstanding of the country\'s position. \"I paid a courtesy call on the President in mid-January and we asked him about his government\'s position.


We do not encourage the HIPC scheme like Britain does as we prefer to remain neutral and so did not advise the President either way,\" he said.


\"We are now waiting for the President\'s decision and we will respect his judgement, whatever he decides to do. Relations between Japan and Ghana would not be damaged by a decision to join the scheme.\"

If Ghana opts to join HIPC, the government of Japan will not be able to extend new Loan Aid, but it has said it will continue to extend Grant Aid as well as technical co-operation. Mr. Kuroda said that the decision will be a difficult one as opinions on the matter within the government are known to be divided.


Britain actively encourages the HIPC scheme and even sent a delegation to Mr. Kufuor to discuss such matters in January. In a subsequent interview with the Chronicle, a British diplomat said Japan had traditionally been opposed to the scheme, which Mr. Kuroda said had given rise to a misunderstanding about Japan\'s position.


Certain African nations have already had debts cancelled as a result of joining the programme.