Japan to increase aid to Ghana

Ghana is to receive more development grants and technical cooperation from Japan as part of efforts to reduce poverty and strengthen the country's democracy.

Mr Motoyoshi Noro, Charge d'Affaires of the Japanese Embassy, who announced this during a courtesy call on Vice President Aliu Mahama at the Castle, Osu, said the road sector would attract the biggest support.

The courtesy call was to introduce a six-member Japanese volunteer corps, assigned to the educational, health and community development sectors in rural communities.

Mr Noro lauded Ghana's stable democracy, saying, Japan wanted to see it flourish for other African counties to emulate. "We have observed the progress of Ghana since the last elections. Japan puts a high value on Ghana's democracy. This government is really a free and fair government in the true democratic sense," he said.

Consequently, said Mr Noro, Japan would establish a "Golden Age of Friendship and Partnership" with Ghana to serve as a bridge between Africa and Asia.

"Our former Prime Minister asserted that there would be no global peace in the 21st Century without solving the peace and security problems of Africa and this has guided our relationship with Africa," he said.

Japan has been Ghana and Africa's largest development partner over the past years, with a total of 13.1 billion dollars support to the continent last year.

However, Japanese assistance to Ghana from next year will be limited to grants and aid as Japan does not grant loans to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, of which Ghana is now a member.

Alhaji Mahama thanked Japan for its support to Ghana over the years and welcomed the pledge to increase the assistance. "You have always been our genuine partners, responding when we need you. You have supported the health, education infrastructure and other sectors and we will continue to rely on you," he said.

Alhaji Mahama said though Ghana's problems were numerous they could be solved with the help of well-endowed and developed countries.