Japan-Ghana Relations
Japan-Ghana Summit Meeting
August 31, 2019
Japan-Ghana Summit Meeting(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On August 31, for about 20 minutes, from 1:20 p.m., Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a Japan-Ghana Summit Meeting with H. E. Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. The overview of the meeting is as follows. President Akufo-Addo participated in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from August 28 to 30.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Abe welcomed President Akufo-Addo’s visit to Japan for the first time since last December, and stated that “TICAD7 was a success thanks to the assistance of President Akufo-Addo.” In response, President Akufo-Addo stated, “I appreciate your warm welcome,” and expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support in various fields.
- Following that, Prime Minister Abe stated that he intends to strengthen trade and investment relations of the two countries through the opening of a JETRO office and the establishment of the Ghana-Japan Business Promotion Council, in order to boost the “Ghana Beyond Aid” vision led by President Akufo-Addo. Also, Prime Minister Abe expressed his intent to support the training of administrative officials in Ghana, and stated that he will support the promotion of qualify infrastructure development and of universal health coverage (UHC) including through a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Africa Health and Wellbeing Initiative. In response, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of trade and investment, and expressed his expectations for the expansion of “KAIZEN” in the West Africa region and cooperation in the transportation field. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe remarked his own experience with the private sector in Japan, and stated that “KAIZEN” are being expanded not only in the manufacturing industry, but also in the service industry, and are very important to Africa.
- The two leaders also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including UN Security Council reform, and the North Korea situation.