Lawyer Asai named ambassador to Ghana

TOKYO ? The government formally decided at a cabinet meeting Tuesday to appoint female lawyer Kazuko Asai as ambassador to Ghana as part of its efforts to streamline the scandal-hit Foreign Ministry, government officials said Tuesday.

The officials said the appointment of Asai, 60, along with the appointments of Takekazu Kawamura, 58, as ambassador to Iran and Kenro Iino, 57, as ambassador to Fiji will take effect immediately.