(Ecofin Agency) - The Japanese leader stressed that peace and stability are prerequisites for economic development and pledged support to Ghana in areas such as infrastructure and human resources development as well as food security.  

Last Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (photo) pledged $500 million to promote peace and stability in Africa.

The pledge was made in Accra, the second stop on the African tour launched by Mr. Kishida to strengthen cooperation between the continent and the group of seven most advanced economies in the world (G7), which is currently presided by Japan. 

"Economic growth cannot be achieved without peace and stability," the Japanese leader said at a joint press conference with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, pledging to support Sahel countries facing Jihadist threats. 

Mr. Kishida also promised to support Ghana in areas such as infrastructure and human resources development and food security. 

As part of his African tour, the Japanese Prime Minister has already visited Egypt. In addition to Ghana, he is expected to visit Kenya and Mozambique.

At the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-8), held in August 2022 in Tunis, Japan announced $30 billion in investment in Africa over three years and the training of more than 300,000 Africans in several fields, to try to counter the influence of China, its powerful rival, in Africa.  

Last December, believing that Africa remains underrepresented in the global bodies despite its growing economic and demographic weight, the Japanese Prime Minister advocated for a permanent seat to the African Union (AU) in the group of the twenty largest economies (G20).

"The admission of the African Union to the G20 is important, given the growing role of African countries in the international community," he said after a meeting with Macky Sall -President of Senegal and current chairman of the African Union- in Tokyo.