Accra, March 9, GNA - Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, on the second of a four-day visit to Ghana, on Monday evening held discussions in Accra with Japanese volunteers in Ghana and beneficiaries of the Asian country's scholarship package. Speaking mainly in the Japanese language, he asked the volunteers to keep their country's spirit of hard work and commitment to duty. By far Japan is regarded as the single biggest donor in grants to Ghana in technical co -operation in areas like agriculture, health and medicine, environment and water.

In a chat with the Ghana News Agency, Professor Ebenezer Owusu, Head of the Animal Biology and Conservation Science of the University of Ghana, said his interaction with the Japanese Crown Prince was a rare experience since he was a deified personality.

Prof. Owusu who is a beneficiary of Japanese education said the visit offered Ghana and

Japan an opportunity to cement bilateral ties.

According to the Don, there are more than 20 lecturers and researchers who benefited from Japanese assistance working at the University of Ghana alone, with about 100 of them countrywide and in different areas of service to the nation. Prof. Owusu suggested the need for Japan to adopt Ghana as model of growth. He praised Japan for the commitment to the virtue of discipline and adherence to the

rule of law, which he said were the basis for accelerated national development. Prof. Owusu called for Japanese technical assistance in water and environmental

conservation.