Ghana-Japan infrastructure dialogue promotes partnership

Government has urged Ghanaian construction companies to take advantage of the ongoing Ghana-Japan Infrastructure Dialogue, to learn Japan’s cutting-edge technologies and methodologies in construction for effective environmental, social and safety considerations and timely completion of projects.

Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, the Minister of Roads and Highways, made the call at the opening of the maiden Ghana-Japan Quality Infrastructure Dialogue in Accra on Friday.

The dialogue aims at providing a platform for co-operation between the public and private sectors of the two countries to exchange ideas and build capacity for mutual benefit.

It also intends to facilitate more concrete discussions regarding the infrastructure needs in Ghana, and ways through which Japanese companies may co-operate with Ghana to meet these needs.

Mr Amoako-Atta said during the High Quality Infrastructure Conference in May this year, Ghana accepted to cooperate with Japan to hold a series of dialogues to sustain the cooperation that had been established towards partnerships between Ghanaian and Japanese companies.

He said the partnership between the two nations would provide quality infrastructure concept from Japan as a critical element for stable socio-economic growth in Ghana in response to the infrastructure deficit in the country.

The Minister noted that, the dialogue would strengthen the co-operation between Ghana and Japan to develop high quality infrastructure and promote strong sustainable and balanced growth, which would create jobs for Ghanaians.

Mr Amoako-Atta noted: ‘‘We acknowledge that high quality infrastructure might appear to have a high initial cost, but in the long run its durability, environmental friendliness and disaster resilience and reduction in overall maintenance cost creates value for money with its reduced lifecycle cost’’.

The Minister said government appreciated the interest of the Japanese Government in the infrastructure sector of Ghana because the country had benefitted immensely from the friendship with Japan.

‘‘We appreciate the Japanese Government for recognising Ghana’s economic potential and providing their support through the implementation of various projects and technical assistance,’’ he said.

Mr Amoako-Atta said Government of Ghana had embraced the high quality infrastructure concept from Japan as a critical element for stable socio-economic growth in response to the infrastructure deficit in the country.

Mr Kouji Tomita, the Chancellor of the Japanese Embassy to Ghana, said many small and medium Japanese companies had increased their presence in Ghana and were ready to cooperate with their Ghanaian counterparts to achieve quality infrastructure in Ghana.

He said a high level delegation from Japan made up of 26 companies and 60 businessmen were in Ghana to take part in the infrastructure dialogue and hold discussions and exchange ideas with the Ghanaian counterparts as well as transfer their ideas into reality.

Mr Tomita said the Infrastructure Dialogue between Ghana and Japan aimed at promoting high quality infrastructure in Ghana and ensure sustainable development.

He said Japan, over the years, had advocated quality infrastructure development as basis for sustainable development and noted that Japanese Government had identified quality infrastructure development as one of the three pillars for international co-operation.

Madam Kazuko Ishigaki, the Japanese Director of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Leader of Japanese Delegation, reiterated the Japanese government’s commitment to partner with Government of Ghana to promote quality and rapid infrastructure growth in Ghana.