Pres Mahama, Japan PM co-chair TICAD-9 2nd plenary session

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, co-chaired the second plenary session on the ‘Economy: Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa’ at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TI­CAD-9) in Yokohama, Japan.

President Mahama co-chaired the session with former Japanese Prime Minister, Kishida Fumio, with interventions from Presidents of Kenya, South Africa, and Co­moros, Dr William Ruto, Cyril Ramaphosa, Azali Assoumani respectively, Togolese leader, Faure Gnassingbe, and UN Un­der-Secretary General, Cristina Duarte.

In his concluding remarks, President Mahama said the TICAD-9 was happening at a time of a rapidly changing world order.

“The world’s largest economy, which should be the driver of global trade and investments, has become more insular and transactional in its relationship with the rest of the world,” he stated.

President Mahama said Africa was open for business but those investments would not come on a silver platter.

“Africa is open for business. We wish to partner with any nation in the world on a win-win basis. But let’s not kid ourselves! Trade and investments will not come to Africa because we wish for it.”

To this end, President Mahama said “Af­rica must undertake the hard but necessary reforms, as countries on the continent, to make Africa an attractive destination for investments.

“That is why we must silence the guns and stop the fighting. That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable. This is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and corrup­tion-free,” he admonished.

Meanwhile the President earlier on Wednesday, held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Japan, Ishiba Shigeru, where the two leaders pledged stronger ties between their respective countries.

The two leaders resolved to deepen the longstanding partnership between Ghana and Japan, with a focus on increased invest­ment and international cooperation.

Prime Minister Ishiba touched on Jap­anese start-up companies in the fields of agriculture, education, and health, as well as Japan’s support in the infrastructure sector, and requested cooperation in resolving the challenges faced by Japanese companies.

He expressed his condolences to Ghana for the ghastly helicopter crash which claimed eight lives on August 6, 2025, including two Ministers of State.

President Mahama on his part, con­veyed Ghana’s appreciation to Japan in its previous TICADs and prayed it further strengthened bilateral and investment rela­tions with African countries.

The two leaders concurred to further enhance the bilateral relationship toward 2027, marking the 100th anniversary of Dr Hideyo Noguchi’s voyage, the 60th anni­versary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the 50th anniversary of the dispatch of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.

President John Mahama was accompa­nied by Foreign Minister Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, Roads Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza, Senior Adviser and Aide to Presi­dent John Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari.

 BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI

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