A ceremony marking the signing and exchange of Notes in respect of the Government of Japan?s extension of a Sector Non-Project Grant Aid assistance to the Government of Ghana in the amount of 1.4 Billion Yen or 117 Billion Cedis approximately was marked in Accra today. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nana Akufo-addo signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana while the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Masamichi Ishikawa signed on behalf of the Government of Japan. The current grant aims to assist in the consolidation of government?s priorities as stipulated in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II), a programme which inter alia is focused on the provision of rural infrastructure such as schools, motorable roads, health facilities and improvement of the quality of life of our rural people. The package comes after the recent assistance involving 437Million Yen or 34.9 Billion Cedis approximately, extended to the government of Ghana in support of the Health Sector as well as the cancellation of part of the nation?s commercial debts. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the laudable gesture is another demonstration of the confidence reposed in the government of Ghana by the government of Japan as well as her resolve to complement government efforts towards the eradication of poverty and improvement of the socio-economic standard of our people. He reiterated that the grant has come at an opportune time in government?s developmental programme for the country. The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Masamichi Ishakawa, explained that the grant is a scheme to provide the Ghanaian Government with foreign currency in order to facilitate the importation of machinery and equipment indispensable for development from overseas. He said the machinery and equipment purchased under the scheme will be allocated upon request from the private sector on hire purchase, and the payment will be deposited on an account with the Bank of Ghana. He hoped that this gesture will strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between Ghana and Japan JEFFERSON KWAMINA SACKEY MEDIA RELATIONS/OHM/MFA