....Koizumi arrives in Accra today
ACCRA ? Ghana is expectantly awaiting the historic visit to the country Monday by Japanese Prime Minister(PM) Junichiro Koizumi, pictured, hoping for more aid to reduce poverty.

?We are hoping he will use his visit to announce more Japanese aid to Ghana,? deputy Foreign Minister Osei Adjei told reporters on Saturday ahead of the visit.

The Japanese leader arrives in Accra today (Monday) for a three-day official visit after visiting Ethiopia.

The visit marks the first time a sitting Japanese PM is visiting the country. Former Japanese PM Hashimoto visited Ghana in 1999, but only after he left office and in the year 2000. Koizumi leaves office in September.

The visit is expected to boost bilateral ties between the two countries. Mr. Koizumi will arrive with a 121-member delegation which will also be exploring investment opportunities in Ghana

As part of his itinerary, the Japanese leader will visit the Korle Bu and 37 Military Hospitals, meet with the Japanese community in Ghana and hold a bilateral meeting with President John Kufuor.

Japan provided more than 10 billion dollars for Africa through Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) between 1993 and 2005, which would now be doubled to 20 billion dollars by 2008.

Koizumi was on Monday scheduled to meet African Union executives, including its chief Alpha Oumar Konare, for talks.

The Japanese Prime Minister, who arrived in Addis Ababa Saturday night, was to conclude his first official visit to Ethiopia later Monday before departing for Ghana.