The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has signed two agreements with the Ghanaian government to construct a flyover at the Tema Interchange as well as offer scholarships to some Ghanaians.
The grant amount for the Improvement of the Tema Motorway Roundabout Phase 2 (Detailed Design) project is One Hundred and Nine Million Japanese Yen (JPY 109,000,000.00), equivalent to about US$ 1 Million.
Whiles the grant aid for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) program for the year 2021 was Two Hundred and Sixty-three Million Japanese Yen (JPY 263,000,000.00), equivalent to about US$ 2.4 Million.
The Tema Interchange Project will complement the completed phase 1 interchange project to alleviate serious traffic congestion and improve logistics from/to Tema port to boost trade among Ghana and neighbors’ countries.
Whiles the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) program for the year 2021 aims to support human resource development in Ghana, targeting highly capable, young government officials who are expected to engage in formulating and implementing social and economic development plans and to become leaders in the country.
Present at the virtual signing ceremony, Mr. Yasumichi ARAKI, Chief Representative of JICA Ghana Office signed the two grant agreements with the Minister for Finance of the Republic of Ghana, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Prior to the signing of these agreements, there was a short diplomatic exchange between H.E. Mr. Tsutomu HIMENO, Ambassador of Japan to Ghana and the Hon. Charles Owiredu, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to pave way for the grants.
The Project for Improvement of the Tema Motorway Roundabout (Phase2) entails a detailed design to construct a flyover at the newly constructed Tema Interchange which was commissioned on June 5, 2020 by President Auffo-Addo.
This will include procurement of a consultant, detailed design study and preparatory works for the construction works.
In its tenth year, the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) started in 2012. So far 78 JDS fellows have been dispatched from Ghana to Japan under this program.
Next year, the JDS program will provide another 13 young and promising Ghanaian government officials with scholarships to obtain doctorate and master’s degrees at the graduate schools of prestigious Japanese universities.
Their research focus will be in the area of Agriculture, Economics, Energy, Health, Public Administration and Public Financial Management.
JICA
Since 1963, JICA has provided support to Ghana in several areas including health, road, electricity, agriculture, industry, education, governance and other significant sectors under the scheme of Yen Loans, Grant Aid, and Technical Cooperation.
Total accumulated value is approximately JPY 136.3 billion (USD 1,265 million), JPY 116.8 billion (USD 1,084 million), and JPY 60.6 billion (USD 562 million) respectively (JFY2018).
Especially, in the road sector, JICA funded construction/rehabilitation of 730km of road, 26 of bridge, and 2 ports. Also two road projects are currently underway; a loan project for the Construction of a New Bridge across the Volta River, amounting to JPY 11.239 Billion (USD 104 million), and a grant aid project for rehabilitation of National Trunk Road N8 (Phase 2), amounting to JPY 6.486 Billion (USD 60 million). More than 4000 Ghanaians have benefited from training in Japan.
