Japan, Ghana explore educational partnership to foster civic values

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, has pledged to deepen educational cooperation with Ghana to promote responsibility and cultural values among students from an early age.

Speaking at a cultural exchange event between Japanese students and their counterparts from the University of Ghana, Mr. Yoshimoto highlighted the longstanding bilateral ties and Japan’s interest in sharing its educational philosophy.

He revealed ongoing discussions with Ghana’s Ministry of Education to enhance teacher training and curriculum development, including non-academic programmes that encourage cooperation and accountability.

“We are currently having productive discussions with the ministry to integrate aspects of the Japanese system, particularly in teacher training and curriculum development. This could include non-academic activities that foster student teamwork and responsibility,” Mr. Yoshimoto said at the event in Accra.

Organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the Centre for Asian Studies at the University of Ghana, the event aimed to facilitate an exchange of ideas between students in both countries to deepen their understanding of each other’s educational systems.

“For now, we would like to start by sharing information and experiences between teachers and experts in both countries. Ghana already has strong educational practices, but also faces challenges. Through collaboration, we can find ways to complement each other,” Mr. Yoshimoto noted.

The ambassador emphasised that Japan’s education system focuses on collective responsibility, teamwork and voluntary cooperation—values developed in primary school.

“In Japan, students not only concentrate on academics but also take on responsibilities such as cleaning their classrooms, discussing concerns with peers and collaborating to solve problems. This fosters a sense of responsibility and the determination to achieve goals,” he said.

He further noted that Japanese teachers go beyond subject instruction to mentor students, assisting them in developing life skills essential for personal and professional success.

The Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, Momoko Suzuki, also highlighted the significance of a holistic approach to education in Ghana’s development.

She emphasised the role of soft skills, values and community engagement in shaping future leaders.

“Education is not just about academic performance in subjects like Mathematics and English; but also about instilling values such as teamwork, leadership and communication skills,” Suzuki said.

She added that these soft skills are crucial for employability and personal growth, as they help individuals understand their roles in society and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Director of the Centre for Asian Studies at the University of Ghana, Prof. Lloyd Amoah, on his part, noted that while Ghana’s education system shares similarities with Japan’s, it lacks strategic organisation and refinement.

He suggested that Ghana could benefit from Japan’s structured approach to instilling civic responsibility.

“Japan’s education system produces well-rounded citizens who take their cities seriously and love their country. These are values we also have in Ghana, but we have not thought through them systematically,” Prof. Amoah said.

He expressed concern that Ghana’s growing emphasis on individualism has contributed to societal issues such as environmental degradation and lawlessness.

By incorporating key aspects of Japan’s educational model, he argued Ghana could foster a more conscientious and community-oriented society. Prof. Amoah highlighted Japan’s focus on cleanliness, environmental awareness and respect for public spaces as practices that Ghana could adopt to create a more organised and developed society.

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