Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana presents laptops, Tyres from UNIDO to GEA

The Ambassador of Japan to Ghana has officially presented 100 laptops and 30 car tyres to the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) on behalf of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), reaffirming Japan’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The ceremony, held in Accra, formed part of the ongoing project “Expanding the Kaizen Initiative by Enhancing Sustainable Agribusiness,” funded by the Government of Japan and implemented in partnership with UNIDO and the GEA. The initiative aims to strengthen Ghana’s food processing and manufacturing sectors through technology, training, and enterprise development.

Receiving the items, GEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Margaret Ansei, expressed profound appreciation to the Ambassador and UNIDO for what she described as a strategic reinforcement of the agency’s capacity. She noted that the project has already delivered significant achievements, including the training of 204 district-level technical officers nationwide. Thirteen of these officers, she said, are awaiting final UNIDO certification.

Madam Ansei added that the donation marks another step in enhancing GEA’s logistical readiness, complementing earlier provisions of vehicles and office furniture under the same project. She emphasized that the laptops and tyres would substantially improve GEA’s operational efficiency as it works to deliver targeted support to MSMEs across the country.

Highlighting the broader impact of the partnership, the CEO pointed to the success of UNIDO’s U-SPARK initiative— a digital lean manufacturing tool that has helped selected Ghanaian enterprises optimize production processes using real-time data. She welcomed news that the initiative is now being scaled across Africa through AUDA-NEPAD, crediting Ghana’s successful implementation as a catalyst.

The Japanese Ambassador reiterated Japan’s dedication to promoting sustainable industrial development in Ghana, commending GEA and UNIDO for their strong collaboration and tangible results.

Madam Ansei concluded by stressing the importance of sustaining the partnership to drive innovation, job creation, export competitiveness, and a stronger contribution of MSMEs to Ghana’s GDP.