Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has concluded a high-level diplomatic meeting in Accra with Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Kunimitsu Ayano, and a delegation of Japanese investors to discuss expanding trade and bilateral cooperation.
Representing President John Dramani Mahama, the Vice President held talks alongside Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, and Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi.
During the engagement, Professor Opoku-Agyemang extended formal congratulations to Sanae Takaichi on her historic election as the first female Prime Minister of Japan, reaffirming Ghana’s intent to deepen the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
The meeting serves as a precursor to a series of significant diplomatic milestones scheduled for 2027, which will mark 70 years of formal relations between Ghana and Japan. The upcoming year also commemorates the centenary of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s arrival in Ghana to conduct medical research and 50 years of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers’ presence in the country.
Highlighting these anniversaries, the Vice President noted that the relationship is built on decades of mutual respect and expressed readiness to build on the momentum generated by President Mahama’s official visit to Japan last year.
Central to the discussions was a shift toward “balanced partnerships” and economic reciprocity. Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the government’s commitment to industrialization through domestic value addition and the processing of natural resources. She invited Japanese enterprises to partner with Ghanaian companies to create sustainable jobs and develop local skills.
The Vice President underscored that while Japanese investors continue to find success in Ghana, the government is equally focused on expanding opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to thrive within the Japanese market, ensuring shared prosperity as both nations adapt to a changing global economic landscape.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
