Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, on Wednesday, received a high-level Japanese delegation led by Dr Kunimitsu Ayano, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on a courtesy call.

It reaffirmed the long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership between Ghana and Japan.

In her remarks, Ofosu-Adjare highlighted Ghana’s positive economic recovery, citing improved macroeconomic stability, stronger agricultural output and renewed investor confidence in 2025.

She expressed optimism about even stronger growth prospects in 2026 under the Government’s Resetting for Growth, Jobs and Economic Transformation Agenda.

The Trade Minister emphasised the Government’s commitment to maintaining a stable, predictable and business-friendly environment.

She acknowledged the support of Japanese institutions such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), the Japan Organisation (JO) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in promoting investment, technical cooperation and private sector development, and encouraged a deeper institutional presence to further support Japanese businesses operating in Ghana.

Ofosu-Adjare said there had never been a better time to invest in Ghana, citing the country’s strategic location and access to a regional market of more than 1.5 billion consumers under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She outlined priority areas for expanded Ghana–Japan cooperation, including MSME development through the application of Kaizen productivity tools, manufacturing and agro-processing, infrastructure development and related sectors.

She also acknowledged the contribution of more than 40 Japanese companies operating in Ghana, including Toyota Tsusho and Fuji Oil, commending their role in technology transfer, job creation and industrial growth.

The Minister concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s strong friendship with Japan and the Government’s readiness to support Japanese investments that promote sustainable growth, green industrialisation and shared prosperity.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, which included the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yodhimoto, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Kunimitsu Ayano, reaffirmed Japan’s strong commitment to Ghana’s development agenda and economic transformation.

She commended Ghana’s ongoing reforms and improving investment climate, noting that Japanese businesses were increasingly interested in deepening their footprint in key sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

She further expressed Japan’s readiness to work closely with the Government of Ghana to advance mutually beneficial relations.

Earlier, members of the delegation paid a visit to Melcom, one of Ghana’s leading retail outlets, where they engaged management to gain insight into the company’s operations, among other activities.