Mahama reaffirms Ghana’s readiness to sttract more Japanese investment

President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to creating a more conducive environment for increased Japanese investment, as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations between the two nations.

He gave the assurance during a high-level bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Wednesday, August 20, on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9) in Japan.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including strengthening diplomatic ties, economic cooperation, and support for international development initiatives.

They emphasized the need to expand trade and investment opportunities and build on the longstanding Ghana–Japan partnership.

Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Ghana following the tragic August 6 accident that claimed the lives of eight individuals, including Ghana’s Ministers of Defense and Environment.

He praised Ghana’s resilience and pledged Japan’s continued solidarity during this period of national mourning.

Highlighting Japan’s long-standing engagement with Ghana, Prime Minister Ishiba noted that President Mahama’s past experience at the Japanese Embassy in Accra offered a strong foundation for enhanced collaboration between the two countries.

In response, President Mahama thanked Japan for its show of empathy and reiterated Ghana’s readiness to work with Japan across key development sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

He also lauded Japan’s support for African development through the TICAD platform and encouraged Japanese companies to take advantage of emerging opportunities in Ghana’s investment landscape.

Prime Minister Ishiba, however, called for Ghana’s assistance in addressing challenges faced by Japanese businesses operating in the country.

President Mahama assured him of Ghana’s commitment to tackling bottlenecks and providing an investor-friendly environment to attract more Japanese enterprises.

The two leaders also touched on broader regional and global issues, reaffirming their joint commitment to promoting peace, stability, and inclusive growth.

Looking ahead, they pledged to deepen bilateral ties in the lead-up to major anniversaries in 2027 — including the 100th anniversary of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s voyage to Ghana, the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ghana and Japan, and the 50th anniversary of Japan’s JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers program in Ghana.

President Mahama was accompanied at the meeting by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, Minister for Roads and Highways Kwame Governs Agbodza, and Senior Presidential Adviser Joyce Bawa Mogtari.

The two leaders are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on Thursday as part of the TICAD-9 framework, before President Mahama delivers his official address at the conference’s plenary session.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith