African leaders gather in Yokohama for TICAD 7
Between Wednesday, August 28 and Friday, August 30, the attention of Africa will be on the Japanese city of Yokohama where heads of state and governments of the continent and other delegations from across the world have gathered for the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7).
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is among African leaders who are attending the conference, which is on the theme, "Advancing Africa's Development through People, Technology and Innovation."
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Kwame Asare Boadu, the Daily Graphic's deputy news editor who is in Tokyo reports that Japan's Prime Minister, Mr Shinzo Abe will open the conference on Wednesday and he is expected to announce far-reaching initiatives to drive the course of Africa's development.
Japan wants to take its relationship with Africa to another level and TICAD 7 is considered as a good avenue for that objective.
Purpose of TICAD 7
Among others, Japan will use TICAD 7 to support further growth in Africa through infrastructure building and human resource development which are foundations for growth.
The Asian giant will also lead international discussions on African development.
During TICAD 6 , which was held in Nairobi, Kenya on August, 27-28, 2016 - the first time ever a TICAD Summit was held in Africa since its inception in 1993 - Prime Minister Abe announced the "investment for the future of Africa" support amounting to $30 billion through public-private partnership for a period of three years from 2016 to 2018 to tackle infrastructure and human resource development.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister is expected to explain how that three-year support initiative was carried through.
Ghana agreements
President Akufo-Addo will make a statement at the plenary session.
According to the Japan Embassy in Ghana, Japan will sign a number of co-operation agreements with Ghana at TICAD 7, reports Asare Boadu.
The agreements will cover areas like health, railways, roads and lands and natural resources.
Media briefing
Briefing 32 African journalists invited for the conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, August 27, the Deputy Assistant Minister, African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Masahiko Kiya said the conference would further project Japan-Africa relations.
"This is the TICAD of business and innovation, " he said in reference to the theme.
He said economy, peace and stability were key to Africa's development and would be discussed fully at the conference.
Mr Kiya said the future of Japan - African relations was targeted at supporting Africa led initiatives.
"So the Japanese government is going to announce more support at this conference, " he said.