Conclusion of MOU with Ghanaian government on opening Accra office

August 2019

On August 29, JETRO concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Ghana on the opening of a JETRO office in Accra in the presence of Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen, who were visiting Japan to participate in the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), and Japanese Economic Minister Hiroshige Seko.

Based on the MOU signed by JETRO Chairman and CEO Nobuhiko Sasaki and Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, JETRO will carry out preparation to open JETRO Accra, its ninth office in Africa, within FY2019.

With high economic growth on the back of commercial crude oil production, political stability and a market of 30 million people expected to expand, Ghana has the fifth largest number of Japanese companies in Africa with further investment likely to follow.

Upon concluding the MOU, Chairman Sasaki stated that the new office would allow JETRO to better assist Japanese companies in entering Ghana, while President Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his hope for the office to open soon, praising JETRO as an important partner for the Ghanaian government.

While the relative presence of trade and investment by Japan in Africa has declined over the past 10 years compared to other regions, JETRO will use TICAD7 as an opportunity to re-expand business in Africa by Japanese companies and strengthen its support framework for Africa.