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Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, has urged Ghanaian technocrats who benefited from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) scholarships, to harness the knowledge and experiences gained in Japan to positively influence Ghana’s development.
Mr Debrah, who was the guest of honour at the maiden national general meeting of the JICA Alumni Association of Ghana (JAAGHA) in Accra on Tuesday, said Ghana stands to benefit immensely if the alumni applied Japanese work ethics, honesty and discipline in their professional lives.
He recalled his participation in a 2011 African delegation to Japan to study sustainable tourism development, noting that the lessons he learned continued to shape his outlook on governance and national development.
He urged the newly sworn-in executives of JAAGHA to organise programmes that would harness the collective expertise of the alumni to help “reset the country.”
The meeting adopted a new constitution and witnessed the swearing-in of a six-member executive to steer the affairs of the Association.
The event was also intended to reconnect alumni, strengthen networks, and share how members were applying knowledge gained in Japan in their work and in national development.
In an address read on his behalf, Mr Hiroshi Yoshimoto, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, highlighted the longstanding diplomatic relations between Ghana and Japan, dating back to 1957.
He said the partnership had yielded significant progress in agriculture, education, infrastructure, and human capacity training.
Mr Yoshimoto reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s development agenda, stressing that the alumni of JICA’s programmes were vital bridges in sustaining bilateral cooperation.
Madam Olivia Afoakwa, the President of JAAGHA, underscored the importance of reconnecting and strengthening the alumni network.
She encouraged members to share knowledge and experiences gained in Japan to enrich their work and contribute to Ghana’s socio-economic transformation.
She further urged the alumni to explore opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing, noting that JAAGHA could serve as a platform for innovation and policy influence.
The meeting also discussed leadership and the future direction of the Association, with members deliberating on ways to mobilise alumni and harness their expertise for national development.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment by JAAGHA executives and members to deepen collaboration, strengthen ties with Japan, and ensure that knowledge gained through JICA scholarships is effectively channeled into Ghana’s development efforts.
