President Mahama returns home today

President John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Lordina, are expected home later today, Wednesday, from Yokohama Japan where they attended the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development.

TICAD V provided President Mahama with an opportunity to finalise a number of key developmental issues with the Japanese Prime Minister, including the restoration of the Yen Loan Porfolio, Japanese support for a new bridge over the lower volta and new areas of support from JICA, Sasakawa Global 2000 among others.

President Mahama also leveraged his relationship and networking with the Japanese elite and diplomats with meetings with former Japanese ambassadors and political officers he worked with in the Japanese Embassy in Ghana.

He also held meetings with a number of Japanese infrastructure project companies, the Japanese Trade Minister, JICA President and the Presidents of Togo and Benin.

At the well patronised and highly royal 2nd Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Awards attended by the Emperor and Empress of Japan, President Mahama was selected to deliver the congratulatory message to the two prize winners. He also held a rare one-on-one meeting with the Emperor Akihito.

The First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama, also participated in a number of meetings including an HIV & AIDS Symposium.

Before arriving in Yokohama for the TICAD V, President Mahama and the wife attended the 50th anniversary session of the African Union in Ethiopia and paid an Official Visit to France.