Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has held discussions with Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, and officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on ways to deepen cooperation between Ghana and Japan.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, focused on a number of areas considered important to Ghana’s development, including digitalisation, fintech, artificial intelligence (AI), flood control and measures to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Bawumia described the engagement as productive and expressed appreciation to Ambassador Yoshimoto and his delegation for the visit.
According to the former Vice President, the discussions were aimed at strengthening bilateral relations while identifying areas where Ghana and Japan could work more closely to address national development challenges.
Digitalisation and technology featured prominently in the discussions. Bawumia has consistently advocated the use of digital technology as a tool for transforming Ghana’s economy and improving the delivery of public services.
The inclusion of artificial intelligence in the discussions reflects the growing importance of the technology globally and Ghana’s interest in positioning itself to benefit from developments in the sector.
Bawumia has previously argued that African countries need to strengthen their digital foundations if they are to take advantage of artificial intelligence. He has described digitalisation as an important foundation for the successful adoption of AI.
Fintech was another area discussed during the meeting. Ghana has experienced significant growth in digital financial services, with technology increasingly influencing how individuals and businesses make payments and access financial services.
Cooperation with Japan could therefore provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, innovation and technical collaboration in areas connected to Ghana’s digital economy.
The discussions also covered flood control, an issue that continues to be a concern in several parts of Ghana.
Flooding can cause significant damage to homes, businesses, roads and other infrastructure, making effective prevention and response systems an important part of national development planning.
The fight against illegal mining was also included in the discussions.
Galamsey has remained a major environmental concern in Ghana because of its impact on water bodies, forests and agricultural land. The government and other stakeholders have continued to explore different approaches to tackling the problem.
The involvement of Japan and JICA could potentially create opportunities for technical cooperation and the exchange of expertise in addressing some of these challenges.
Japan has an established development cooperation relationship with Ghana. Earlier in 2026, Japan-supported initiatives were launched in Ghana focusing on peacebuilding, digital transformation and the use of AI in healthcare.
The latest engagement therefore comes against the backdrop of an existing relationship between the two countries in areas involving technology and development.
For Bawumia, the meeting also provides an opportunity to continue discussions around some of the policy areas that have featured prominently in his public advocacy, particularly digitalisation, technology and artificial intelligence.
The former Vice President served in government from 2017 to 2025 and has continued to speak publicly about the role of technology in Africa’s economic development.
As Ghana seeks stronger international partnerships to address economic, technological and environmental challenges, engagements such as the meeting with the Japanese delegation could provide opportunities for cooperation.
For now, no specific new project or agreement arising from the meeting has been announced. However, the discussions highlight several areas where Ghana and Japan could deepen collaboration.
Bawumia thanked Ambassador Yoshimoto and the JICA representatives for their visit, describing the engagement as an important opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Japan.
Source: Thepressradio.com
