The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, has held discussions with Mr. Oda Ryotaro, a senior representative and deputy country director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ghana Office, to advance the course of development in the region.
The JICA Deputy Country Director on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Regional Minister as part of a working visit to the Northern Region.
The meeting, which was facilitated by the Northern Regional Health Director and his team, aimed to brief the Regional Minister on JICA’s ongoing initiatives and projects in the Northern Region and to explore potential collaboration opportunities between JICA and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council.
Mr. Oda Ryotaro, in his remarks, highlighted JICA’s multifaceted projects in the region, spanning from the health sector, energy, governance, and agricultural sectors.
He noted that the Agency is also working to improve the referral system and quality of maternal and child health services, stabilise the power supply, enhance community policing effectiveness, and promote market-oriented agriculture through the SHEP Approach.
He added that these initiatives are designed to contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the region.
The Northern Regional Minister, for his part, commended the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japanese Government for the years of support to drive growth and development in the region.
He further assured the agency of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council’s unwavering commitment to support and collaborate with the organisation to ensure the successful implementation of its projects in the region.
Meanwhile, the engagement underscored the importance of collaboration and partnership in driving development in the Northern Region. JICA’s ongoing initiatives and projects are poised to make a significant impact on the region’s socio-economic landscape, and the NRCC’s support and collaboration will be instrumental in ensuring their success.
The Principal Development Planning Officer (PDPO) at the Coordinating Council, Alhaji Habib Shahadu, appealed to JICA and project implementers to engage with the Regional Economic Development Planning Office in the decision-making process for project implementation.
He maintained this would ensure effective project execution, accountability, and transparency.
