Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - The total number of Japanese volunteers to Ghana under the Japan Overseas Volunteers (JOCV) project since its introduction in 1977 has reached the 1,000-mark, with the posting of nine volunteers this week.

A statement issued on Thursday by the Ghana Office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said these volunteers undertook different projects in different communities all over the country to meet the requirements of each region, especially the highly deprived areas. According to the statement, the volunteers had so far assisted in areas such as health and education through the teaching of subjects like Science and Mathematics, Primary Education, Computer Technology, Hydro Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Veterinary Medicine and Nursing. They also engage in activities that result in youth, sports and community development, HIV and AIDS control, infectious diseases control and acquisition of vocational training skills such as dressmaking, handicrafts, design, carpentry, and teaching of computer science. Currently, there are over 100 professional Japanese volunteers working to support development of Ghana.

The first batch to have been dispatch was on August 17, 1977, which included seven Science and Mathematics teachers, one vegetable-growing volunteer and one rice cultivation volunteer. This was made possible after exchange of notes between the then government of Ghana and Japan for the establishment of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in Ghana. The statement said JOVC, which was under the scheme of JICA, had been committed to serving the people of Japan and Ghana "as a bridge to advance international cooperation through sharing of knowledge and experience".