The Crown Prince of Japan, Prince Naruhito, arrived in Accra Sunday for a four-day official visit to Ghana.
The special Japanese airline carrying the Prince and his 30-member delegation touched down at the Kotoka International Airport (Jubilee Lounge) at 4:30 p.m.
Prince Naruhito was met on arrival by the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama; the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chris Kpodoh; Health Minister, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor; Minister of Tourism, Mrs Zita Okaikoi; the Mayor of Accra, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, and other government officials.
Ms Gloria Arkoh, 11, a Class Five pupil of He Cares Academy, Lapaz, presented a bouquet to Prince Naruhito as a symbol of joy on his arrival. There was also drumming and dancing by the Ghana Dance Ensemble of the University of Ghana, Legon.
Prince Naruhito is expected to call on President John Evans Atta Mills at the Castle, Osu, today and the President will later host a lunch in his honour.
The Crown Prince will visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park where he will plant a tree and lay a wreath, after which he will visit the Mary Star of the Sea International School, Kasoa, and the Dr Noguchi Laboratory at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Thereafter, he will meet with Japanese citizens resident in Ghana and former scholarship students. The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Katakami, will host him to a dinner.
On Tuesday, Prince Naruhito will be a special guest at the First Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Memorial Symposium at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. He is expected to lay a wreath at the Japanese Overseas Co-operation Volunteers (JOCV) Monument at the La Cemetery.
His final activity would be to visit Akosombo. Prince Naruhito and his delegation will leave for Japan on Wednesday.
Mr Kpodoh described Prince Naruhito’s visit as very significant, as it would further deepen bilateral ties between Ghana and Japan.
He said, Japan had provided financial assistance for Ghana in support of Ghana’s economy and described the visit as a demonstration of the commitment of the Japanese Government to sustain relations between the two countries.
from graphicghana.com
