JICA and Ministry of Finance sign grant agreement for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ghana’s Ministry of Finance have officially signed a Grant Agreement to support the “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS),” marking a renewed commitment to strengthening Ghana’s public sector through advanced education and training.

The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Finance, where JICA Executive Senior Vice President, Ms. Miyazaki Katsura, and Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.

The JDS project is a strategic initiative aimed at building Ghana’s human resource capacity by offering scholarships to outstanding young government officials.

These individuals are selected based on their leadership potential and the strategic importance of their roles in the formulation and implementation of national development policies.

Rooted in Japan’s own development experience, the JDS program views human capital as the cornerstone of sustainable national progress.

It provides participants with the opportunity to study at top Japanese universities, where they gain insights into Japan’s unique modernization path and development philosophy—an alternative to traditional Western models.

Scholars also explore Japan’s role in accelerating development across Asia, enriching their understanding of international development dynamics.

Since its inception in Ghana in 2012, the program has steadily contributed to the country’s capacity-building agenda.

To date, 130 Ghanaians have been selected for the scholarship, with 103 having successfully completed their postgraduate programs in Japan.

Currently, 27 fellows are pursuing various fields of study, and 13 new participants will join this academic year to specialize in areas including Economics, Public Financial Management, Public Administration, Public Health, and International Relations.

The signing comes ahead of the upcoming Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), scheduled for August 2025 in Yokohama, Japan.

TICAD serves as a major platform for international collaboration on African development, emphasizing African ownership and global partnership.

This year’s theme, “Co-create Innovative Solutions,” highlights the importance of exchange programs like JDS in fostering innovation and cooperation between Africa and Japan.

The JDS Scholarship is administered by the Japan Development Secretariat and reflects Japan’s long-term commitment to international cooperation, human development, and global peacebuilding.

As Ghana continues to prioritize knowledge-driven growth, initiatives like the JDS program will remain crucial in equipping the country’s next generation of public sector leaders with the expertise and global perspective needed to drive sustainable development.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith