Japan to support rural institutions to earn income

Accra, Aug. 26, GNA - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has started a programme to assist vocational institutions in rural areas to set up production and marketing units that would manufacture and sell high quality products to tourists and for urban markets.

Mr Takahata Tsuneo, Resident Representative of JICA, said this when he accompanied seven Japanese volunteers, who called on Vice President Aliu Mahama at the Castle, Osu.

He said the sale of the products, which would include souvenirs, would improve the socio-economic conditions of the people and halt migration of the youth to urban areas.

"We are negotiating with the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills to push this agenda," he said. The Prince Boateng Memorial Girls' School at Nsawam has started a pilot scheme with the production of some gift bags to be used as souvenirs.

Mr Takahata showed some of the samples to the Vice President and said the Japanese volunteers would provide technical advice to run the units successfully.

Vice President Mahama welcomed the initiative and commended the support of Japanese volunteers to the education sector and rural development over the last 25 years.

He said the teaching of Science and Mathematics is very relevant as it facilitates economic growth.

Vice President Mahama asked the volunteers to overcome whatever difficulties they might encounter on the field and learn the best of Ghanaian culture, as they would become the nation's ambassadors on their return home.

"You would become our ambassadors and influence your country's policy on Africa, particularly Ghana, with your experience," he said. The Vice President said Ghana appreciated the long-standing cordial relations between the two countries and described as a 'remarkable gesture' the recent conversion of the hitherto loan to rehabilitate the Accra-Cape Coast Road to a grant.

The volunteers, who will teach Mathematics, Science, Biology, Basketball and Dressmaking in various rural based institutions, would be in the country for two years.

Mrs Kazuko Asai, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, accompanied them to the Castle.