Jan 21-2026

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Thursday, 15th January 2026, held bilateral discussions with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Her Excellency Dr. Kunimitsu Ayano, who is on a Working Visit to Ghana. The Japanese delegation includes representatives from thirty-five (35) Japanese companies, underscoring a strong private sector interest in expanding economic cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, the Minister commended Japan for its enduring partnership with Ghana and acknowledged the confidence demonstrated by Japanese companies during Ghana’s recent economic challenges. He provided an update on Ghana’s improving macroeconomic conditions, highlighting currency stabilisation, declining inflation, and progress under the IMF-supported programme. He noted that these developments create favourable conditions for investment, particularly as the Government advances its agenda on value addition, industrialisation, and export-led growth. The Minister also referenced Ghana’s cocoa exports to Japan and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening cocoa production through farm rehabilitation, enhanced extension services, and productivity improvements to ensure sustained supply and quality. The discussions also focused on key milestone anniversaries scheduled for 2027, which both sides identified as important opportunities to further consolidate bilateral relations. These include the centenary of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s arrival and work in Ghana, the 50th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) programme in Ghana, and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ghana and Japan. It was agreed that these milestones should be leveraged to showcase the depth of cooperation between the two countries while exploring new areas of collaboration. In her remarks, Dr. Kunimitsu Ayano expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded her delegation and reflected on the strong historical ties linking Ghana and Japan. She highlighted the lasting legacy of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi in Ghana as a symbol of enduring people-to-people relations. She also welcomed Ghana’s ongoing economic recovery and reform efforts, while stressing the importance of a stable, predictable, and investor-friendly business environment for Japanese enterprises operating in the country. Contributing from the private sector perspective, the Chief Executive Officer of Axelspace, Mr. Yuya Nakamura, reaffirmed the positive relations between Ghana and Japan and expressed interest in supporting Ghana’s development priorities. He pointed to opportunities for collaboration in emerging technologies, noting that partnerships in areas such as space technology could contribute to national development objectives, including agriculture, climate resilience, and public service delivery. In his concluding remarks, Honourable Okudzeto Ablakwa reaffirmed Government’s commitment to science, technology, and innovation as critical drivers of development and emphasised that continued dialogue and cooperation would further strengthen the Ghana–Japan partnership. Also present at the meeting were the Director of the First Africa Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Taro Kawase, and the Ambassador of Japan to Ghana, His Excellency Hiroshi Yoshimoto.