Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Appiah Amfo in a handshake with H.E Fumio Kishida
Prime Minister of Japan, H.E Fumio Kishida has visited the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) at the University of Ghana as part of his official Visit to Ghana.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor, and Professor Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Director of NMIMR, welcomed him and gave him a tour of the Institute.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida used the occasion to commend the Institute's efforts during the COVID-19 Pandemic and pledged Japan’s support to combat diseases such as Malaria in Africa.
H.E Fumio Kishida flanked by Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu (far left) and Prof. Appiah Amfo (right)
“I monitored with keen interest how the Institute responded and continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I understand that the Institute did not only contribute to Ghana but the West Africa region, and for that achievement I would like to pay my sincere respect.” The Prime Minister noted that, many people are still losing their lives in Africa due to various tropical diseases such as Malaria, and that in order to promote universal health coverage, Japan would like to contribute to efforts at eradicating infectious diseases, in collaboration with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which is a major medical research hub in West Africa.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo thanked the Prime Minister for visiting and expressed the hope that the visit will significantly strengthen ties between UG and Japan.
‘I would like to on behalf of the University of Ghana and NMIMR express our excitement and our deep appreciation for your visit. My understanding is that, you are the first Prime Minister to have visited this Institute and we really are very happy about this. It shows your commitment to this Institute.”
She indicated that the friendship between Ghana and Japan has yielded fruits over the years. “As you can see it has resulted in high quality human resource which has enhanced and developed skills during exchange training programmes held between NMIMR and Japan. We look forward to more fruitful collaborations between the Institute, Ghana and Japan,” the Vice Chancellor said.
H.E Fumio Kishida touring NMIMR facilities
Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Professor Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, expressed the institute’s appreciation to the Government and the People of Japan for their significant contributions and support to the development of the Institute since its inception in 1979.
The Japanese delegation was made up of Mr. Isozaki Yoshihiko, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary; Mr. Mori Masafumi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister; Mr. Iijima Isao, Special Advisor to the Cabinet; Mr. Okano Masataka, Deputy National Security Adviser; Mr. Shimada Takashi, Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister; and Mr. Otsuru Tetsuya, Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Also present from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research were Dr. Samuel Adjei, Head, Department of Animal Experimentation; Professor Irene Ayi, Head, Parasitology Department; Dr. John Odoom, Head, Department of Virology; Professor George Armah-Researcher; Dr. Chantal Agbemabiese, Researcher, and Dr. Nagaoka Hikaru, Researcher.
