The government of Japan has committed 341 million Japanese Yen, approximately 2.11 million US dollars, to support postgraduate scholarships for young Ghanaian government officials.
The funding, under the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), is expected to strengthen the country’s human resource capacity by enabling selected public officials to pursue Master’s and Ph.D. programmes at universities in Japan.
A statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Ghana and shared with The Ghanaian Times indicated that the grant agreement was formalised on Tuesday through the signing of an Exchange of Notes between the Government of Japan and the Government of Ghana.
According to the statement, the documents were signed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ghana, Mr Yoshimoto Hiroshi, and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Khadija Iddrisu.
The statement explained that the JDS programme offers two-year Master’s degree courses and a three-year Ph.D. programme at selected Japanese universities for young officials of the Government of Ghana.
It noted that the scholarship is designed to equip beneficiaries with the knowledge and skills required to contribute effectively to the implementation of Ghana’s social and economic development policies, while preparing them for leadership roles in the public service.
The host institutions include Kobe University, Ritsumeikan University, Nagasaki University, International Christian University and the International University of Japan.
According to the statement, Japan has been offering the scholarship to Ghanaian government officials since 2012.
It added that the programme was expanded in 2020 with an increase in the number of Master’s scholarships from 10 to 12, alongside the introduction of one Ph.D. scholarship.
The statement further indicated that about 143 young Ghanaian officials have benefited from the programme since its inception, reflecting Japan’s continued commitment to supporting Ghana’s human resource development through higher education.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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