A sod for the construction of the Centre has been done to mark the start of the project, a statement signed by Ms Miyuki Tan, Health Section, JICA and copied to the Ghana News Agency said.

 It said Professor Kwadwo Koram, Director, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research of University of Ghana together with Mr Parker Allotey, Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Agyemang Manu, Minister of Health and Prof Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Education in charge of Tertiary Education cut the sod.

The statement said the Project aimed to provide an efficient and safe research and teaching environment for staff and students of the Institute by constructing the centre.

The centre upon completion, will contribute to the positioning of Noguchi Memorial Institute’s role in responding to the ever expanding research and training needs of the country as well as the West African sub-region and to respond effectively to disease outbreaks, including highly pathogenic agents such as Ebola Virus.

JICA shall extend a grant up to approximately 21 million dollars for a new Bio Safety Level three laboratory, Virology, Bacteriology and Immunology laboratories and training spaces.

Mr Hirofumi Hoshi, new Chief Representative for JICA Ghana has congratulated the Institute on its remarkable contribution to the research and public health service in Ghana, as well as the West African sub-region.

He also expressed commitment to help elevate the Institute into a leading regional disease surveillance network and capacity building for laboratory and research in West Africa.

At the TICAD six, (the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development) held in Kenya in August 2016, Africa, Japan and other global health leaders also reiterated the importance to include the aspect of preparedness for public health emergencies into Universal Health Care efforts (UHC).

Mr Hoshi said the reason why I am emphasising the UHC, is that Ghana had great potential in achieving UHC with the good focus on the preparedness, with the contribution from the Noguchi Institute.

Prof Koram, thanked Japan and JICA for the continued support for the Institute and pledged that the research entity would continue to uphold international standards and excellence in all its operations.