ACCRA, Ghana: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday agreed to work together to strengthen the functions of the United Nations, including through Security Council reform.

In their talks in Accra, the capital of Ghana, the two leaders affirmed cooperation in dealing with North Korea, which is accelerating its nuclear and missile development programs.

Japan and Ghana are serving as nonpermanent members of the Security Council.

At a joint press conference, Akufo-Addo said that the current Security Council permanent members does not reflect the reality as they are the victors of World War II, adding that reform must be promoted.

The two leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine and affirmed the importance of a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

On Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Akufo-Addo said that the world must not be a place where a major power can trample on a small country in a clear violation of international law.

“We must not tolerate any moves that deny even the principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Kishida said.

Kishida announced that Japan will provide some 500 million dollars over the next three years to help stabilize the Sahel region in the southern part of the Sahara Desert in Africa.

Earlier, Kishida visited the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana, which commemorates the achievements of Hideyo Noguchi, who died of yellow fever while researching the viral disease in what is now Ghana.

Kishida became the first Japanese prime minister to visit Ghana since May 2006, when then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a visit.

JIJI Press