Investing in people is key to Ghana’s future – Julius Debrah

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has described investment in human capital as one of the most important contributions Ghana can make towards its future development.

He made the observation after receiving a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the Presidency during engagements ahead of the 50th anniversary of its professional training programme for Ghanaian professionals.

According to him, the five-decade partnership between Ghana and Japan has created opportunities for thousands of Ghanaians to acquire knowledge, professional skills and experience that have contributed to the development of different sectors of the country.

Julius Debrah disclosed that he was personally a beneficiary of the programme, having participated in a training programme in Japan in 2011 as part of an African delegation that studied sustainable tourism development.

He said his experience had given him firsthand appreciation of the value of international learning opportunities and the importance of applying knowledge gained from other countries to national development.

He noted that JICA had played an important role in strengthening Ghana’s human resource capacity through professional training, knowledge transfer and institutional development.

“On behalf of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, I expressed our profound appreciation to the Government and people of Japan for their longstanding friendship and continued investment in Ghana’s development,” he stated.

He further explained that the benefits of professional training extended beyond the individuals who participated, as their acquired knowledge and expertise could be transferred to colleagues, institutions and other sectors of the economy.

The Chief of Staff said Ghana’s partnership with Japan demonstrated the importance of creating opportunities for people to develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to national progress.

JICA’s training programme, which began in 1976, has provided opportunities for Ghanaian professionals in areas such as health, agriculture, industry and tourism, education, governance and planning, infrastructure and energy.

The initiative has also expanded to include postgraduate studies at Japanese universities, allowing some Ghanaian professionals to pursue master’s and doctoral qualifications.

The programme forms part of Japan’s broader development cooperation with Ghana, which focuses on strengthening institutional capacity and supporting the country’s development priorities.

Julius Debrah expressed appreciation to the Japanese government for sustaining the partnership over the years, noting that the knowledge, skills and potential of citizens remained central to Ghana’s future.

He expressed anticipation for the golden jubilee celebrations scheduled for February 2027 and said he looked forward to even stronger cooperation between Ghana and Japan in the years ahead.