Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida visits Ghana to strengthen ties with Africa and promote economic growth

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to visit Ghana as part of his official tour of selected African countries. This visit marks the first time in 17 years that a Japanese Prime Minister is visiting Ghana after Junichiro Koizumi’s visit in 2006.

PM Kishida has already visited Egypt and is expected to travel to Kenya and Mozambique, with a transit through Singapore before returning to Japan. The visit to Africa is to strengthen ties with the “global South” and gather international solidarity in support of Ukraine before the G7 summit in Hiroshima under the Japanese presidency.

During his visit to Ghana, PM Kishida is scheduled to meet with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with a focus on deepening the economic relationships between Ghana and Japan. Japan has been supporting Ghana’s infrastructure development, especially in the road sector, to improve the country’s connectivity.

The PM expressed Japan’s high hopes for Ghana, which hosts the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to play a role in promoting regional integration and trade facilitation. Japan is determined to cooperate more closely with Ghana in the future, particularly in the area of healthcare, and Japan has continuously supported Ghana’s infrastructure development in areas of roads and healthcare.

PM Kishida also emphasized the need for nations to uphold the International order based on the rule of law to ensure peace and stability, particularly in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which threatens the international order’s foundation. He is expected to reaffirm Japan’s close collaboration with Ghana, which is playing a leading role in maintaining peace and stability in the region through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Accra Initiative.

The visit by PM Kishida is expected to further strengthen the long-standing and friendly bilateral relationship between Ghana and Japan. Ghana stood by Japan in a difficult situation, and the PM will never forget Ghana’s support.

At the TICAD 8 meeting held in August last year, Japan expressed its firm determination to be a “partner growing together with Africa” and to cooperate with Africa to realize a resilient Africa that Africa itself aims to achieve. The PM’s visit to Africa is a strong demonstration of Japan’s commitment to walking hand in hand with Africa, and as the country holding the G7 Presidency, Japan is committed to carefully listening to the voices of African countries.

For the most part, PM Kishida’s visit to Ghana is expected to foster better economic and diplomatic relations between Ghana and Japan. Japan’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s development agenda, especially in the infrastructure and healthcare sectors, will further enhance the two countries’ partnership. The visit by PM Kishida is also a strong demonstration of Japan’s commitment to deepening its ties with Africa and working together to achieve a resilient Africa.

Source: DGN