By Gloria Anderson
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development in Ghana as it kick-starts a three-day media tour ahead of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD 9).
Speaking at the briefing session in Accra, the Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, Momoko Suzuki, underscored Japan’s long-standing collaboration with Africa through TICAD, which has been instrumental in driving economic growth, food security, and infrastructure development across the continent.
Suzuki highlighted that TICAD serves as an open forum where African nations, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society engage to accelerate Africa’s development through ownership and partnerships. She reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to human security and quality growth, stating, “TICAD is an open forum where African nations, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society engage to accelerate Africa’s development through ownership and partnerships.”
As part of the engagement, JICA Ghana outlined three key projects shaping Ghana’s development. The Ghana Rice Production Improvement Project (GRIP) is one of JICA’s flagship initiatives aimed at enhancing local rice production under the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD). The project seeks to bridge Ghana’s food security gap by reducing reliance on rice imports and increasing domestic production. Suzuki noted that, “On the occasion of TICAD 7 in 2019, CARD 2 was launched to further boost production to 56 million tonnes by 2030.” She further explained that Ghana has been one of the key beneficiaries of this initiative, with GRIP supporting the country’s National Rice Development Strategy 2 to ensure a stable supply of locally produced rice.
Another major initiative is the Construction of the Tema Motorway Interchange Phases 1 & 2, a strategic infrastructure project aimed at boosting Ghana’s position as a regional trade hub. Suzuki pointed out that the project, which strengthens trade routes such as the Lagos-Abidjan Highway and the Eastern Corridor, is a direct outcome of TICAD V in 2013, where Japan committed to investing in Ghana’s long-term infrastructure development. She explained that the interchange not only eases traffic congestion but also facilitates regional trade, contributing to Ghana’s economic transformation under the government’s “Big Push” National Infrastructure Development Programme.
Suzuki also highlighted the contribution of JICA Volunteers (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers), who have been instrumental in grassroots diplomacy between Japan and Ghana. Since 1977, JICA has dispatched over 1,600 volunteers to Ghana, with 43 currently working in education, health, agriculture, and private-sector development. These volunteers play a vital role in local communities by sharing ideas and driving positive change. Emphasizing their impact, Suzuki remarked, “The JICA volunteers are key elements to the friendly and trusting relationship and the partnership that TICAD values.”
As the three-day media tour unfolds, JICA Ghana is expected to further engage stakeholders in discussions on Japan-Ghana cooperation and its impact on national development.
