Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has commended volunteers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their contribution to Ghana’s development and the strong relationships they have built with communities across the country.
Mr. Nyarko Ampem made the commendation when 32 JICA volunteers paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Finance as part of their engagement with government.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Deputy Minister expressed appreciation for the volunteers’ dedication, skills and service to communities across Ghana.
He said the 50 years of JICA’s volunteer programme in Ghana would be worth commemorating in 2027, describing the initiative as an important example of international cooperation and community service.
According to him, JICA volunteers have helped rekindle the spirit of volunteerism in Ghana by demonstrating the importance of dedicating time and skills to supporting local communities.
“JICA volunteers continue to remind and rekindle the spirit of volunteerism in Ghana by the demonstration of the importance of giving time and skills to support local communities,” he said.
Mr. Nyarko Ampem also disclosed that government had prioritised the construction of the Volivo Bridge and was working to facilitate the drawdown of funds to accelerate the project.
He said the bridge, together with other road investments under the government’s Big Push programme, would improve transportation networks and reduce travel distances to parts of northern Ghana.
Reflecting on JICA’s impact, the Deputy Minister recalled his personal experience with the programme, saying he was taught Mathematics by a JICA volunteer during his childhood.
He noted that his experience was representative of the broader impact JICA volunteers had made on the lives of many Ghanaians over the years.
JICA’s cooperation with Ghana dates back to 1963, while the first batch of nine JICA volunteers arrived in the country on August 17, 1977.
Since then, a total of 1,557 volunteers have served in Ghana in areas including education, health and agriculture, providing technical assistance to institutions and communities.
In addition, more than 4,700 Ghanaian officials have received training in Japan or other third countries through JICA-supported programmes.
The JICA delegation included the Chief Representative of the JICA Ghana Office, Mr. Takayuki Uchiyama, and the Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Naoki Mitori.
Mr. Mitori said the volunteer programme went beyond the transfer of Japanese knowledge and expertise, explaining that the volunteers also gained valuable experiences from Ghanaian culture, food, languages and community life.
The 32 volunteers, who are serving in communities across eight regions of Ghana, used the visit to share their experiences and reflect on the relationships they have developed with people in the communities where they work.
