Accra, Dec. 21, GNA - Mr Alex Kwaning, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, has lauded the immense contribution of Japanese Volunteers to rural development in the country.

He said 93I wish to express our sincere gratitude to you all for volunteering to serve Ghana, especially in rural areas where basic amenitie= s may not be as sophisticated as those you are used to in Japan."

"I am sure that within the two years of your service, you encountere= d some challenges but you weathered all storms and completed your activities. Ghana is grateful for your contributions and I believe that we will live to see the positive effect of your contribution on a large scale." Mr Kwaning made the commendation when receiving a delegation of six returning Japanese volunteers who have completed various volunteering projects in Central, Eastern, Greater Accra and Upper West Regions.r A statement issued in Accra by Mr Kojo Olabode-Williams, JICA Public Relations Advisor, said the delegation was part of the over 1,000 skilled, young and elderly volunteers of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Agency, JOCV= .. It said they were constantly deplored to Ghana since 1977 to serve in education, health, tourism and private sector development, vocational training, engineering, agriculture and construction. Each volunteer serves an average of two years in Ghana. Mr Kwaning urged the volunteers to be ambassadors of Ghana and look fo= r areas in the economy to invest.

"You have experienced the peace and hospitability in Ghana, inform y= our friends about Ghana and encourage them to invest in our growing economy. This will further strengthen the relationship that exists between both countries," he added. The volunteers said Ghana remained a hospitable country with lots of growth potentials. They expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the success of thei= r activities, including locals, who supported project implementation at various stages. Some of the projects they implemented included judo training, communit= y health, nutrition, effective breastfeeding, HIV/AIDS confidential counselling and testing, eradication of stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with HIV, tourism promotion, improvement of access to water and community sanitation. The volunteers are Ms Satoko Aichi, (Nursing Officer) Ms Mio Shirai, (HIV/AIDS Controller) Ms Yuko Tanaka, (HIV/AIDS Controller) Mr Hiroyuki Suzuki, (Community Development Officer, Tourism) Ms Mariyo Nishikawa (Community Development Officer, Water and Sanitation) and Mr Yukimitsu Eguchi (Judo Instructor, Ghana Police Service and Ghana Judo Association). They served the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Education and the Ghana Police Service.

Areas where they worked included Awutu-Efutu District Assembly (Winneba), Kwaebibrem District Assembly (Kade), Brim North District Health Service (New Abirem), Lawra District Assembly (Lawra) and Donkokrom (Presbyterian University College). Mr Kazuhiko Higuchi, new Coordinator for the Tamale Office of the JOCV was introduced to the Ministry. He oversees the activities of Japanese volunteers in the northern part of the country. On February 17, 1977, the Governments of Ghana and Japan signed an Exchange of Notes that paved way for the establishment of JOCV in Ghana.