Ghana and Japan have taken further steps to strengthen their long-standing bilateral relations following high-level engagements with a visiting Japanese business delegation led by Ayano Kunimitsu, Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The 35-member delegation held extensive discussions with Ghanaian authorities and business leaders.

This culminated in strategic partnerships with local companies, commitments to scale up Japanese investment in Ghana, and improved access for Ghanaian products to the Japanese market.

The Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, welcomed the delegation in Accra, describing the engagements as substantive and mutually beneficial.

Mr. Ablakwa said the talks paved the way for the expansion of Japanese automobile manufacturing companies in Ghana, with plans to open additional branches to serve the West African sub-region.

He noted that both countries had also initiated steps to operationalise cooperation in space technology and artificial intelligence, building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed during Ghana’s participation in TICAD 9 in Japan.

The discussions further focused on boosting value addition in Ghana’s cocoa sector, particularly strengthening the presence and performance of the historically renowned Ghana Chocolate brand on the Japanese market.

Mr. Ablakwa said the renewed cooperation came at a significant time, as Ghana and Japan prepared to mark three major milestones next year: 70 years of bilateral relations; 100 years since the public health and yellow fever work of Hideyo Noguchi in Ghana, where he died in the line of duty; and 50 years of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers’ service in Ghana.

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening ties with Japan, underscoring the shared values and strong people-to-people relations between the two countries.

“We deeply value our excellent Ghana–Japan relations and remain committed to expanding cooperation that delivers mutual economic growth and development,” the Minister said.