The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has successfully convened a homecoming presentation session in Accra for Ghanaian government officials who studied in Japan under the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS).
In attendance was the Chief Representative for JICA Ghana, Ms. Suzuki Momoko, who thanked the officials for their tenacity, dedication, and commitment to utilizing their experiences to the benefit of Ghana as a country.
JICA also organized a seminar titled “Japan’s Diplomacy toward Africa and the Current State of Japanese Corporate Investment,” delivered by Professor SHIRATO Keiichi of Ritsumeikan University as part of its ongoing efforts to deepen Japan–Ghana cooperation.
A Decade of Investing in Ghana’s Human Capital
Funded by the Government of Japan, the JDS program supports promising young Ghanaian civil servants to pursue graduate degrees in Japan, equipping them with advanced knowledge and practical skills for national development.
Since its launch in Ghana in 2012, the JDS program has produced 143 fellows, many of whom now occupy important roles across ministries and agencies, contributing to policy development in areas such as Economics, Public Administration, Public Health, and International Relations.
Now in its 14th year in Ghana, the JDS program continues to serve as one of Japan’s flagship human resource development initiatives, fostering leaders who can drive institutional reforms and steer the nation’s development agenda.
Knowledge-Sharing and Results-Oriented Presentations
The homecoming presentation session featured contributions from recently returned JDS alumni, who shared the tangible outcomes of their research and academic experiences in Japan. These officials demonstrated how insights into Japan’s unique modernisation and development paradigms are being applied to address local challenges and enhance public administration in Ghana.
Shifting the Paradigm: From “Aid” to “Co-creation”
In his keynote lecture, Prof. SHIRATO outlined major global shifts affecting Africa-Japan relations. Drawing on international data, he explained that the world is undergoing rapid multipolarization, while the relative economic weight of traditional powers -the United States, Europe, Japan- is gradually declining, while emerging economies continue to rise. At the same time, African countries have moved from being passive aid recipients to active political and economic actors shaping the international system.
Prof. SHIRATO emphasized that Africa’s demographic dynamism—rapid population growth and a young workforce— drives corporate interest, including Japanese firms. He posited that engagement is shifting from a traditional donor–recipient approach to an equal, co‑creative partnership. He also noted that domestic fiscal pressures and “anti‑aid” public sentiment in developed countries underscore the need for more sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation models.
Leading the World with Trust: JDS Alumni as the “Bridge”
In his concluding remarks, Prof. SHIRATO urged the JDS alumni that: “As individuals who deeply understand both Japan and Africa, you are the key to unlocking this Co-creative Partnership.”
A statement from JICA Ghana through the Public Relations Advisor, John Kojo Williams, reiterates that JICA, in line with its core vision, “Leading the World with Trust,” remains committed to fostering Co-Creative Partnership “bridges” between Ghana and Japan. By empowering Ghanaian officials with both Japanese insights and local expertise, JICA aims to create tangible developmental outcomes and strengthen the economic ties between Japan and Ghana.
