The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Mochizuki Hisanobu, paid a courtesy call on the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, on Thursday 23 May 2024, at the Naval Headquarters, Burma Camp.
The Ambassador and CNS discussed ways to strengthen the already existing bilateral cooperation between Japan and Ghana, particularly in the areas of maritime security, defence and economic development.
Ambassador Mochizuki expressed Japan’s commitment to supporting the Ghana Navy’s efforts to enhance maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. He said Japan and Ghana have a long standing relationship and thus, the need to strengthen the ties. He discussed potential areas of cooperation with the CNS, such as training, joint exercises and exchange visits between the two countries.
He added that Japan has extended economic assistance to Ghana in multiple areas through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He used the occasion to introduce the newly appointed Defence Attaché to Ghana, Lieutenant Colonel Morita Tatsuya, who is currently based in Abuja, Nigeria.
Rear Admiral Yakubu on his part, thanked the Ambassador for the visit and assured him of the Ghana Navy’s commitment to cooperating with the Government of Japan. He stated that, plans were far advanced to acquire a vessel from Japan to be used for training of its sailors. He therefore appealed to the Ambassador to help fast track the acquisition of the vessel as soon as possible.
The CNS presented plaques to the delegation and also decorated them with a hand-woven Ghana Navy stole.
