Mr Naodo Nikai, Japanese Ambassador, on Friday handed over a consignment of rice to Ghana, to augment the country’s shortfall in domestic rice production.

Mr Nikai said the consignment totaling 17,000 tons worth $12 million falls under the Japanese food aid programme.

He explained that under the programme, the government of Ghana would have to deposit the proceeds from the sale of the rice into the Japanese Counter-Value Fund to be utilized to implement other social and economic projects to meet the needs of Ghanaians.

The Japanese Ambassador gave the assurance that, his country remained committed to the cordial relations between Ghana and Japan and expressed the hope that with the fair distribution of the commodity, the local markets and consumers would not be adversely affected.

Mr Enoch Hemans Cobbinah, Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance received the items on behalf of the government and thanked the donors for the gesture.

Mr Cobbinah assured the Ambassador that the necessary procedures would be followed in the marketing of the rice to ensure the achievement of the mandatory payment of more than two-thirds of the Freight On Board value of the consignment into the Japanese Counter-Value Fund.**