The Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has commended volunteers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their contribution to Ghana’s development and the strong relationships they have built with communities across the country.
Speaking during a courtesy call by 32 JICA volunteers at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Nyarko Ampem expressed appreciation for their dedication and service on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
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He said the 50 years of volunteer and impactful service by JICA in Ghana would be worth commemorating in 2027, noting that JICA volunteers continue to demonstrate the importance of giving time and skills to support local communities.
The Deputy Minister disclosed that government had prioritised the construction of the Volivo Bridge and was planning to facilitate the drawdown of funds to accelerate the project.
He said the Volivo Bridge project, together with other road investments under the government’s Big Push programme, would improve transportation and shorten travel distances to parts of northern Ghana.
Mr. Nyarko Ampem also noted the impact of JICA’s programme on several beneficiaries, recalling that he was taught Mathematics by a JICA volunteer as a child. He said many Ghanaians had similarly benefited from the contribution of JICA volunteers over the years.
JICA’s cooperation with Ghana dates back to 1963, while the first batch of nine JICA volunteers arrived in Ghana on August 17, 1977. Since then, 1,557 volunteers have served in various fields, including education, health and agriculture, providing technical assistance to institutions in Ghana. More than 4,700 Ghanaian officials have also received training in Japan or third countries.
The delegation included the Chief Representative of the JICA Ghana Office, Mr. Takayuki Uchiyama, and the Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Naoki Mitori.
Mr. Mitori said the programme went beyond the transfer of Japanese knowledge and expertise, as the volunteers also learnt from Ghanaian culture, food, language and community experiences.
The visit provided an opportunity for the volunteers, who serve in communities across eight regions of Ghana, to share their experiences and reflect on the relationships they have built with Ghanaians in the communities where they serve.
The event also featured a judo demonstration by members of the Ghana Judo Federation, highlighting the cultural and developmental exchanges that have characterised the longstanding partnership between Ghana and Japan.
