Ghana and Japan have signed a ¥402 million (approximately $2.9 million) grant agreement under the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Programme.
The agreement, signed at the Ministry of Finance in Accra, marks the launch of the third batch of the programme’s fourth phase.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Japan for their continued support.
He said the programme aligns with Ghana’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and build a resilient, knowledge-based public sector.
Dr. Forson also provided an update on Ghana’s economic outlook, noting that the country’s sovereign credit ratings were expected to improve soon as a result of progress made in economic recovery.
Leading the Japanese delegation, Executive Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Miyazaki Katsura, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to long-term development cooperation.
She said the JDS programme was strategically important in preparing Ghanaian professionals for leadership and institutional reform.
The JDS Programme offers Ghanaian government officials the opportunity to pursue master’s degrees at Japanese universities, aiming to enhance their expertise and contribute to Ghana’s development.
The courses are taught in English and span two years. For the 2025 academic year, 12 Ghanaian officials are expected to benefit from this initiative.
This partnership underscores the strong bilateral relations between Ghana and Japan and highlights a shared commitment to investing in human capital as a catalyst for national development.
