Julius Debrah receives JICA delegation ahead of golden jubilee

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has received a JICA delegation as Ghana prepares to celebrate five decades of professional training cooperation with Japan.

The delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Staff at the Presidency as part of engagements ahead of the programme’s 50th anniversary in February 2027.

The delegation was led by Takayuki Uchiyama, Chief Representative of the JICA Ghana Office, and included senior alumni of the programme, among them Lovia Afoakwa, President of the JICA Alumni Association of Ghana.

The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the programme’s contribution to Ghana’s human resource development since the first group of Ghanaian professionals travelled to Japan for training in 1976.

JICA is the development cooperation agency of the Government of Japan. It works with partner countries through technical cooperation, professional training, knowledge sharing and other development initiatives.

In Ghana, its training programme has supported the development of expertise across several sectors, including health, agriculture, industry and tourism, education, governance and planning, as well as infrastructure and energy.

More than 5,000 Ghanaian officials and professionals had benefited from the training by the end of Japan’s 2025 fiscal year.

The initiative has also expanded beyond short-term professional courses to include postgraduate opportunities, with more than 150 Ghanaians obtaining master’s and doctoral qualifications at Japanese universities.

The programme includes the Knowledge Co-Creation Programme, training linked to JICA’s technical cooperation projects and postgraduate scholarship opportunities.

Over the years, beneficiaries have returned to Ghana with knowledge and experience intended to strengthen public institutions, improve professional practice and contribute to development in their respective fields.

The JICA Alumni Association of Ghana also provides a platform for former participants to maintain professional relationships, exchange information and share experiences gained through the programme.

Established in 1991, the association brings together former participants of JICA training and supports continued engagement between alumni, JICA and relevant institutions.

Julius Debrah, who is also a beneficiary of the programme, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Japan for their longstanding friendship and continued investment in Ghana’s development.

He said the partnership had demonstrated the importance of professional training, knowledge transfer and institutional development.

The Chief of Staff also expressed anticipation for the February 2027 celebrations and said he looked forward to stronger cooperation between Ghana and Japan in the years ahead.

The golden jubilee is expected to provide an opportunity to recognise the contributions of former beneficiaries and reflect on how the training partnership can continue supporting Ghana’s development.