Accra, April 20, GNA - Ghana and Japan on Monday signed a 13.3 million Ghana cedi Grant as part of Japan's support for Food Aid in the three Northern regions hit by flood in 2007. The aid is to be delivered in the form of rice supply before the end of 2009.

Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Mr. Keiichi Katakami, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana signed the agreement. Alhaji Mumuni said proceeds from the sale of the Food Aid would be used to implement development oriented programmes and activities agreed between the two countries.

He said many Ghanaians had benefited from the Japanese rice project in Africa including short and long term training in rice production, processing and marketing in Japan. He said the Grant had provided agricultural equipment for underprivileged farmers and sold at 50 per cent cost to farmers in the Northern, Upper East, Volta and Greater Accra Regions for rice cultivation. He thanked the Japanese government for the support in helping reduce poverty among the rural poor and enhancing the lives of Ghanaians. Mr Katakami said the Japanese government had increased the grant to reflect the difficult market times. He said despite the current international crisis, Japan would always abide by its commitment to African development. He lauded the effort of Ghana's government in making the lives of its people better, saying Japan would continue to offer the needed support to help the country achieve its economic and social development goals.