Ambassador to Japan presents credentials

Accra, July 14, GNA – Ghana's Ambassador to Japan, Dr. William George Mensah Brandful, has presented his Letters of Accreditation to Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

A statement issued in Accra by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Ghana and Japan established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level in the early 1960s.

“Since then, the bi-lateral relations have grown from strength to strength to incorporate new areas of cooperation to the mutual benefit of the two countries.”

The statement said generally, Japan had provided Ghana with generous economic assistance.

In the particular area of Official Development Assistance to African countries, Ghana's share has been second only to Kenya for much of the period going back to the 1990s, the statement said.

“The Government of Japan regards Ghana as a model country in Africa – a stable democratic nation that remains committed to promoting sound economic management, good governance, fostering economic and social development and contributing positively to the realization and maintenance of peace, security, stability and development in Africa as a whole and West Africa in particular,” the statement said.

It said the existence of excellent relations was manifested by the high profile state visits to Ghana and Japan by The Crown Prince of Japan, Prince Naruhito in March, 2010 and President John Evans Atta Mills in September and October, 2010 respectively.

The statement said the Tokyo Mission had hosted numerous Ministers, senior Government officials and private sector operators on official missions to Japan and also facilitated high level Japanese business delegations to Ghana.

GNA