Ejura, April 15, GNA - The Japanese Government has donated 100,000 bags of maize valued at GH¢3.2 million in support of flood victims in nine regions of the country.

This was in response to an appeal made to it by the Government in the aftermath of the devastating floods that hit parts of the nation, last year.

Ashanti was the only region that escaped the severe natural havoc.

The maize was bought locally through a grant under the Japanese Counter-Value Fund.

Mr Jiro Inamura, Resident Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency, (JICA) at the official presentation ceremony held at Ejura in the Ejura-Sekyedomase District, pledged continued support to help Ghana achieve food security. They were determined to assist the nation to procure the necessary machinery and equipment to boost the agricultural sector of the economy, he said.

He said they were happy to be associated with efforts at assisting to rehabilitate and bring some relief to people who suffered losses as a result of the floods.

Mr Yaw Okyere-Nyarko, Director at the Finance and Economic Planning, said the maize would be distributed by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the nation was grateful to Japan for the gesture.

Within four years, the Asian economic giant, has approved Ghana's request to utilize a total of about GH¢43.86 million from its Counter-Value Funds.

This, he said, made it possible for the implementation of the District Capitals Road Improvement Project, road and drainage systems of 67 district capitals and other critical projects. They also supported Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), purchase of cocoa chemical analyzing equipment for the Ghana Cocoa Board and a three-storey training facility for the Civil Service.