TICAD 2019 – Promoting High-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners

DWM played the advisory role for the largest banks in Ghana – GCB and CBG in Yokohama, Japan. The team arranged and deliberated over meetings in Yokohama by introducing the Ghanaian policy banks to the largest Japanese banks MUFG and SMBC as well as fintech’s -Libertaad KK and Transferwise to establish a correspondent banking relationship among the banks and offer guidance on the procedures required to establish and maintain relations. DWM also introduced Cocobod to the Cocoa Association of Japan (CCAJ) to advise on the establishment of the Cocoa Museum in Ghana and how CCAJ can aid with funding and other activities.

President Akufo-Addo left Ghana on Saturday, August 24, for Japan, to attend the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), at the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe. The objective of the conference was "to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners." Japan is a co-host of the conference, with the co-organizers being the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (UN-OSSA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Whilst in Japan, President Akufo-Addo held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Abe, and also with the President of Mauritius, and also meetings with s ome CEOs of important Japanese companies. The President addressed the plenary session of TICAD on the theme “Accelerating Economic Transformation and Improving the Business Environment Through Innovation and Private Sector Engagement”; deliver the keynote speech at the 2019 Symposium of the Junior Chamber International; and deliver a statement at the Third Replenishment of GAVI, “a public-private global health partnership committed to increasing access to immunisation in poor countries”.

He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP; Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng; and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

Figure 1 From left, Junichi Fukuoka (Head of Intl Trade - J & W), John Nakaswa (Africa Business - J & W), Takeo Ogawara (J & W), Koji Fuchigami (CEO, President - J & W), Daniel Addo (MD- CBG), William Mochia (Exec. Asst. - CBG), John Zigah (Head of Treasury - CBG), K Duker (DWM), Chieko Jimbo (DWM)