Accra: Japan and Ghana have signed an Exchange of Notes for Japanese Grant Assistance under the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS).
According to Ghana Web, the agreement is valued at 341 million Japanese yen, approximately US$2.11 million. The Exchange of Notes was signed by HE Yoshimoto Hiroshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Ghana, and Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
The JDS programme provides Ghanaian government officials with opportunities to pursue two-year Master's courses and three-year PhD courses at renowned Japanese universities, including Kobe University, Ritsumeikan University, Nagasaki University, International Christian University, and the International University of Japan. The programme supports young officials from the Government of Ghana in pursuing graduate studies, thereby assisting in the implementation of social and economic development plans.
The initiative aims to strengthen Ghana's social and economic development by equipping young professionals with advanced academic and practical skills. Since its introduction in 2012, the JDS has supported approximately 143 Ghanaian officials in their studies in Japan. In 2020, the programme expanded to include an increase in Master's scholarships from 10 to 12 annually, along with the addition of one PhD scholarship.
The Embassy of Japan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana's development agenda through education and capacity building.