Ghana, Japan Strengthen Economic Partnership with Focus on Cocoa and Infrastructure

Ghana and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties and accelerating infrastructure projects following a bilateral meeting between President John Mahama and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at TICAD 9 in Yokohama.

President Mahama underscored Ghana’s importance in Japan’s cocoa industry, pointing out that the country supplies nearly 70 percent of Japan’s cocoa imports.

He urged Japanese companies to expand investment in Ghana’s cocoa value chain, particularly through a public–private partnership with the Cocoa Processing Company, aimed at revitalizing the plant and boosting value addition.

The Ghanaian leader also reflected on upcoming milestones in Ghana–Japan relations. These include the centenary of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s arrival in Ghana and the 50th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in 2027—milestones he had previously discussed with Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto.

The renewed cooperation signals broader opportunities for collaboration in trade, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange, further deepening ties between Accra and Tokyo.