President John Dramani Mahama led a high-level team to Japan to attend the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
The conference, held in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025, was an important venue for Ghana to enhance business ties and attract investment.
On the fringes of the conference, President Mahama spoke at a Presidential Investment Forum in Tokyo, where he enthusiastically promoted Ghana as Africa’s most appealing investment destination.
Speaking to a large group of Japanese investors, diplomats, and government officials, he hailed Ghana as a stable, democratic, and business-friendly gateway to West Africa and the rest of the continent.
Mahama emphasized Ghana’s improving macroeconomic situation, strategic location, and numerous opportunities for commerce, industrialization, and technology transfer.
He noted that “Ghana is open for business 24 hours a day,” in addition to “embracing a bold vision that harnesses innovation, industrialization, and regional integration to unlock the full potential of our people and resources.”
The TICAD process, which began in 1993, is one of the most important worldwide venues for African development.
The conference, organized by the Government of Japan in collaboration with the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the World Bank, aims to promote African ownership of its development agenda while fostering strong international partnerships.
Key outcomes of President Mahama’s working visit to Japan and participation in TICAD 9
1. Volivo to Dorfor Adidome Bridge across the Volta River has been revived. Both nations commit to immediately provide the additional funding required.
2. Kumasi inner city ring road project to commence shortly;
3. New agreement signed with Toyota to expand its operations in Ghana and make Ghana its West African hub;
4. Groundbreaking space agreement signed with Japan to leverage space science for Ghana’s development;
5. Ghana to benefit from training of a targeted 300,000 youth in AI, modern agriculture, green transition, tech-startups, and biotechnology;
6. Special cooperation anchored on latest scientific research to boost rice production in Ghana and attain food security;
7. US$100 million secured for new agricultural projects;
8. Arranged a strategic industrialization partnership with Japan, as Japan considers investing a dedicated US $1.5 billion in Africa in the short term.
Source: newsthemegh.com