Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City on Thursday signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the implementation of a Tourism Development Project in 2006.

The three-year project, which would cost two million dollars, would be done through strengthening Public-Private-Partnership. Mr Kenichi Shishido, Resident Representative of JICA, signed on behalf of Japan Government, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City signed on behalf Ghana while Mr Ernest Osei Prempeh, Acting Director of External Resource Mobilisation of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, signed on behalf of the Ministry.

Under the agreement, JICA would provide the services of Japanese experts, machinery, equipment and other materials necessary for the implementation of the project.

JICA would also offer technical training in Japan for Ghanaian personnel connected with the project while the Government of Ghana would ensure that technologies and knowledge acquired by Ghanaians as a result of the technical cooperation are utilised effectively for the implementation of the project.

Ghana Government would ensure the sustainability of the self-reliant operation of the project during and after the three-year period of Japanese technical cooperation through full and active involvement by all related authorities, beneficiary groups and institutions.

Mr Shishido said Ghana had the potential of becoming a big time tourist destination hence their decision to support the project. He said though his term of office had come to an end he would ensure that every bit of the agreement came into fruition.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey commended JICA and said the involvement of the private sector was very crucial for the development of tourism and added that efforts were underway to bring Japan tourists in Europe to Ghana. "This will be an opportunity to make them use Ghana as the gateway for tourism in Africa," he said.