Accra, July 19, GNA - Twelve Japanese volunteers are in Ghana to spend the next two years, to facilitate the Guineaworm Eradication Programme and the national campaign against other infectious diseases. The volunteers working under the auspice of the Japan Volunteers Overseas (JOCV) would also engage in community development, automobile engineering and computer technology, with the focus on science and mathematics education.

The new volunteers bring the number of JOCV in the country to 70. The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Masamicho Ishikawa introduced them to Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at a meeting at the Castle, Osu on Tuesday. They would be posted to Tamale, Diare and Savelugu in the Northern Region, Shama in the Western Region, Koase and Tuobodom in the Brong Ahafo Region, Akwapim Mampong in the Eastern Region, Biriwa in the Central Region and Navrongo in the Upper East Region.

Alhaji Mahama expressed satisfaction that the volunteers would help to boost the teaching and learning of science and mathematics and also improve the health of the people.

He asked the volunteers mainly in their teens to enjoy the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality and adapt to the culture and tradition of the communities they had been assigned to.

The Vice President asked them to strive to be good ambassadors of the country after completing their duty tour.

"I hope you will have a lot to say after your duty tour and be good ambassadors of Ghana and Africa."

He expressed appreciation for the support Japan continued to provide to Ghana, referring to a one billion-debt cancellation the Asian economic giant offered to the ruling New Patriotic Party when it opted for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative in 2001.